Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin is willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky provided that every outstanding issue is "properly worked out" in advance. Speaking in Moscow on 21 August after talks with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Lavrov emphasised that a leaders’ summit cannot fail and therefore requires exhaustive groundwork at lower levels. Lavrov also questioned the legal standing of any Ukrainian signatories to potential agreements, noting that Zelensky has issued a decree forbidding direct negotiations with Putin. He added that the question of legitimacy would have to be resolved before any documents are signed, underscoring Russia’s scepticism that a top-level meeting can be arranged quickly.