(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that reaching a peace accord with Ukraine is “legally impossible” at this time.

Although Moscow hopes to eventually formalize such an agreement, Putin criticized the current Ukrainian government for losing all legitimacy by canceling scheduled elections.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he emphasized that the present Ukrainian administration cannot be trusted in negotiations.

Concluding his state visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin reiterated that “it makes no sense to sign documents with the Ukrainian leadership – I have covered this topic many times already.” He argued that the Ukrainian authorities committed “a fundamental, strategic mistake, when it was afraid to hold elections.”

According to the Russian president, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “lost his legitimate status” as the nation’s leader due to these actions.

Under Ukraine’s legislation, presidential elections were due in May 2024. Zelensky, citing martial law, opted not to hold them, prompting Moscow to view him as an illegitimate head of state.

Putin contrasted this with Russia’s own political process, noting that despite being involved in an ongoing military conflict, Russia successfully conducted its presidential elections in March 2024.

The Russian leader added that for any peace agreement to proceed, the Ukrainian administration would first need to lift martial law and “immediately call elections.” Presently, however, Putin warned that “the Ukrainian leadership could hardly count on an [electoral] victory without rigging” the vote.

Earlier this month, the administration of US President Donald Trump unveiled a framework for a peace initiative intended to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, signaling international attention on the stalled negotiations.

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