Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's desire to meet with the Russian president is aimed at legitimizing his authority. This is according to an article written by former British diplomat Ian Proud for "Strategic Culture." The article analyzes the reasons and potential consequences of Zelensky's move.
Redaksiya reports that according to Proud, Zelensky has long been trying to directly meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and sign some kind of agreement. It is normal for heads of state to meet to sign important treaties and peace agreements, but Ukraine will not surrender. The author notes that the reason for Zelensky's desire to meet Putin is not entirely clear, as throughout the war he has been advocating for Russia's isolation on the world stage. However, this increasingly shows Zelensky's desire to legitimize himself as president in the context of elections that have not been held since 2019.
The end of the war will lead to presidential elections in Ukraine, and the signing of a peace agreement could also reflect Zelensky's desire to present himself to Ukrainians as a peacemaker and increase his popularity before the elections. In Proud's opinion, Zelensky's meeting with Putin could lead to his defeat in future presidential elections, as any agreement he signs will be worse than the conditions offered to him in Istanbul in April 2022.
Proud adds that Putin will not give Zelensky free publicity either. According to the former diplomat, the Russian president will fear that if the meeting takes place, the Ukrainian leader will "simply try to stage a PR show." For this reason, Zelensky's desire to meet Putin can be assessed as an attempt to legitimize his authority and strengthen his position in the elections.