After years of brutal conflict and stalled negotiations, a glimmer of hope emerged over the weekend as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be possible – but only if ongoing peace talks between their delegations yield concrete progress. This development follows the first face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives since the war erupted in February 2022, signaling a cautious but important step toward potential de-escalation.

On May 16, in a much-anticipated event mediated by Turkey, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators convened in Istanbul for a two-hour session that marked the first direct contact between the two sides in more than a year. The meeting focused on critical issues such as ceasefire arrangements, a major prisoner exchange, and discussions about future dialogue.

Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator, expressed satisfaction with the progress made, affirming Russia’s readiness to “resume contacts” with Kyiv. The tone was cautiously optimistic, a stark contrast to the acrimony and stalemates that had characterized negotiations throughout much of the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified the next possible step in talks during a May 17 briefing with reporters, stating, “A meeting between Putin and Zelensky is possible but only as a result of the work of the delegations of both sides and reaching specific agreements.” In other words, a summit between the two leaders depends on tangible progress from the groundwork laid by their respective negotiating teams.

One key sticking point in any direct talks revolves around the question of legitimacy – a delicate and........

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