**Zelensky and Putin Meeting Unlikely in Next 30 Days, Kremlin Says**
A meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to happen within the next 30 days. This was stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on July 25.
Peskov’s comments come as the deadline approaches for US President Donald Trump to potentially impose sanctions on Russia if a peace deal with Ukraine is not reached. The 50-day deadline was set by Trump, and it’s been over two weeks since he announced this ultimatum.
**Russia’s Stance Unchanged**
While Zelensky has expressed his readiness for face-to-face talks, Putin has repeatedly declined to participate in person. Instead, lower-level officials have been sent to negotiate on Russia’s behalf. Peskov emphasized that Russia’s position remains unchanged, as outlined in the draft memorandum presented to Ukraine during the second round of negotiations in Turkey.
**Complex Diplomatic Work Ahead**
Peskov stated that reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s positions would require complex diplomatic work. He noted that it’s unlikely these positions can be reconciled instantly. “This will require very complex diplomatic work,” he said. This means that a meeting between Zelensky and Putin might not happen anytime soon.
**US Pressure Mounts**
The US pressure on Russia to agree to a peace deal continues to mount. Trump threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russia if a peace deal with Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. He also expressed frustration with Putin’s actions, saying he had expected an agreement months ago.
**No Support from Russia**
Despite Zelensky’s proposal for a summit between the two leaders before the end of August, Russia has not yet supported this initiative. The Ukrainian delegation led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov proposed holding a summit between Zelensky and Putin before the end of August.
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