. . . is that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should stop beating a dead horse — rather than just putting it behind the cart, as suggested earlier — and give up on his attempts to arrange a meeting with Vladimir Putin in the near future. Because Putin simply is not going to show up.

How many ways can they say it? Apparently, quite a few.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman — and all-around dispenser of joy and glad tidings — Dmitry Peskov said that Zelensky’s suggestion of a meeting before the expiration of Donald Trump’s 50-day deadline was indeed “. . . trying to put the cart slightly ahead of the horse.” [Laura Gozzi, BBC News, July 24, 2025.]

But apparently our friend Dima wasn’t sure he had made his boss’ point strongly enough, because on Friday he issued a further statement to the effect that a summit between the two presidents would only take place as a final step to seal a peace deal . . . and that it was unlikely that any such meeting could occur within Zelensky’s proposed time frame.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov said:

“A summit meeting can and should put the final point on a settlement and cement the modalities and agreements worked out by experts. It is impossible to do it the other way round. Is it possible to go through such a complex process in 30 days? Well, obviously, it is unlikely.” [Dmitry Antonov, Anastasiia Melenko and Mark Trevelyan, Reuters, July 25, 2025.]

That sounds clear to me . . . incorrect, but clear.

However, either Zelensky isn’t getting the message, or (more likely) he is simply unwilling to give up the fight to put a peaceful end to the devastation. In the wake of three failed talks between the two countries’ delegations, he says that a face-to-face meeting of the leaders is required for a breakthrough. He also told journalists that Russia had “begun to engage” over the possibility of such a meeting:

”Now, in talks with us, they have begun to discuss it. This is already progress towards some kind of meeting format.” [Id.]

However, Peskov made it quite clear that the negotiating positions of the two countries are “ . . . diametrically opposed. It is unlikely that they can be brought together overnight. This will require very complex diplomatic work.” [Id.]

End of discussion.

So have we reached a stalemate? And if so, how do we break it?

I hope someone figures it out soon, before there is nothing but rubble left for Putin to claim.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/27/25