Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin (72) does not want to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47) for the time being. He said this on Thursday.

Putin said:"I've said many times that I have nothing against it in principle; it's possible." However, certain conditions are necessary. The Kremlin chief added:"Unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions."

In doing so, Russia is also torpedoing the negotiation plans of US President Donald Trump (79). He had previously suggested that he would discuss peace in Ukraine first with Putin, then with Zelensky, and then with both presidents together in the coming weeks. For this to happen, Putin and Zelensky would have had to meet face-to-face.

At the same time, the Russian expressed his openness to a meeting with Donald Trump next week. The United Arab Emirates could be a suitable venue for a summit, Putin said in the Kremlin on the sidelines of a meeting with Emirati President Mohammed bin Sajid.

Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, had previously said that Moscow and Washington had already agreed on the location, but that it would not be officially announced until later. Putin said that Russia had several friends ready to host the event.

Russia has been waging a destructive war of aggression against Ukraine for more than three years. More than a quarter of a million people have been killed, a good half of them Russian soldiers.

US President Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to end the war quickly. However, so far only Ukraine has agreed to an immediate ceasefire, while Russia continues its major offensives in the east and south of the country.