• Zelenskyy accuses Russia of preventing a meeting with Putin to end the war.
• Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov states there is no current agenda for the summit.
• US President Trump is pushing for a peace summit between the two leaders.
• Security guarantees for Ukraine remain a critical issue amidst ongoing tensions.
• Russia's recent military actions raise doubts about their commitment to peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of doing "everything" it can to prevent a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a crucial step towards negotiating an end to the ongoing conflict. His comments come after recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a summit between the two leaders. "The Russians are doing everything they can to prevent the meeting from taking place," Zelenskyy stated during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv, signaling Ukrainian willingness to negotiate amidst persistent hostilities, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and India Times.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that there is currently no agenda for a potential summit, suggesting that any meeting would require substantial groundwork by experts and ministers. Lavrov stated, "Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy when the agenda would be ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all," which raises further concerns about the possibility of resolving the ongoing conflict, according to Al Jazeera, Dawn, and The Jakarta Post.

The intermediary U.S. mediation efforts, led by Trump, aim to facilitate a peace agreement but face significant hurdles as Russia maintains its demands and expresses reluctance regarding key issues like security guarantees. During the current diplomatic push, Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of these guarantees, which Ukraine seeks to be comparable to NATO's Article 5, ensuring collective defense against any future aggressions. "This is the beginning of a big undertaking, and it is not easy," he mentioned, highlighting the complexities involved in providing adequate military assistance and security assurances from international partners, according to ABC News, South China Morning Post, and Anadolu Agency.

Despite Zelenskyy's attempts to push for renewed dialogue, there has been an apparent lack of interest from Russia, which has continued its military offensives, casting doubt on its commitment to genuine peace talks. Following the discussions, Lavrov's remarks indicated Russia's intention to solidify its stance and prepare for any negotiations only when favorable conditions are established. This ongoing standoff raises questions about the future of diplomatic endeavors in resolving the conflict, as both sides remain entrenched in their positions, according to Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, and BBC.