Russia Welcomes Prospect of Putin–Zelensky Talks, but Peace Hopes Remain Cautious

Russian,Nigeria–Russian citizens have expressed cautious optimism over a potential summit between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even as many remain skeptical about the likelihood of a swift resolution to the conflict that has lasted more than three years.

The development follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to facilitate direct talks between the two leaders — their first in nearly six years — after separate meetings with Putin in Alaska on Friday and with Zelensky in Washington on Monday.

Since the outbreak of war in February 2022, when Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, diplomatic ties between the two countries have been severed, with no formal communication between their heads of state.

Speaking with AFP in Moscow, 39-year-old musician Roman expressed hope that such a high-level dialogue could mark a turning point. “It would be good if this meeting happens. I believe the conflict could end and things might return to normal,” he said. “Too many young people have died. This should have happened long ago.”

Similarly, 23-year-old civil servant Vyacheslav shared a sense of regret over the delay. “A meeting like this was overdue. Unfortunately, there were too many vested interests involved earlier, and events unfolded the way they did,” he noted.

Russia initially aimed to capture Kyiv within days of launching the invasion but withdrew after facing fierce resistance. Since then, Moscow’s forces have occupied significant territory in eastern and southern Ukraine, with the war claiming tens of thousands of lives on both sides.

“I just want it all to end peacefully,” Roman added. “We are one people — we are Slavs. We must learn to respect and love one another.”

While the possibility of a summit has sparked discussions among the public, many observers remain wary of whether such a meeting could yield immediate breakthroughs in one of Europe’s most protracted and devastating conflicts in recent history.

By Enoch odesola/August 19,2025