Moscow, 23 April (H.S.):

The Kremlin has drawn a firm line on potential direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, insisting that any summit must focus solely on sealing a conclusive end to the ongoing conflict. This stance, articulated by presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, underscores Moscow's readiness for talks but only under conditions that guarantee tangible outcomes.

Peskov, speaking on Russian state television and quoted by TASS, emphasized the necessity of a clear purpose. The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment, he stated. He added that discussions would be productive only if aimed at finalising agreements, rejecting vague diplomatic overtures amid the protracted war now entering its third year.

This position emerges as faint glimmers of de-escalation appear on the horizon.

Recent reports from Reuters and the Associated Press highlight stalled U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts, with European diplomats noting Russia's incremental territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. Kremlin insiders, cited by RBC, reveal Putin's preference for a Moscow-hosted summit to project strength, contrasting with Zelenskyy's calls for neutral ground like Istanbul, where preliminary talks faltered last month.

The Kremlin's rigid preconditions reflect broader strategic calculations. Analysts from the Carnegie Moscow Center argue that Moscow seeks to lock in control over annexed regions like Donetsk and Luhansk before broader peace terms, leveraging recent military momentum.

Zelenskyy, in a CNN interview aired yesterday, dismissed premature summits without preconditions like troop withdrawals, accusing Russia of using talks as a stalling tactic. Western allies, per BBC monitoring, view the Kremlin's deadline-like framing as a bid to divide NATO unity, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump's incoming administration signaling a potential pivot toward rapid negotiations.

As global stakeholders watch closely, the Kremlin's ultimatum injects urgency into the diplomatic calendar. With frontline clashes unabated and winter logistics looming, Peskov's words signal that Moscow holds the initiative – but at the risk of prolonging stalemate if Kyiv demurs.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar