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Will Putin 'wriggle out' of Zelensky meeting?

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22.08.2025
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Will Putin 'wriggle out' of Zelensky meeting?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday warned that his Russian counterpart is looking for a way out of a bilateral meeting being pushed by President Trump.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

"Now, the signals coming from Russia are simply outrageous," Zelensky wrote on X. "They are trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting. They don’t want to end this war. They continue their massive attacks on Ukraine and their ferocious assaults along the frontline."

The remarks came after Russia on Thursday launched a massive attack on Ukraine that struck an American-owned electronics factory. Officials said the barrage included more than 600 drones and missiles across the country, in what Zelensky called an "anti-record."

Trump posted a cryptic message later in the day, raising the prospect of Ukrainian attacks into Russia and predicting "interesting times ahead."

The U.S. president on Monday indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was open to a meeting with Zelensky, but Russia has since sought to slow-walk the process.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking to reporters Thursday, said Putin was "ready" for a meeting with Zelensky, but........

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