Russia says Putin ready for talks, but Zelenskyy’s legitimacy must be settled first

Russia's Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but under certain conditions.

This is according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaking to members of the media on Thursday during which he questioned the Ukrainian leader's political legitimacy.

President Zelenskyy had postponed Ukraine's presidential election after his term expired last May citing martial law.

Accordingly Lavrov claimed Ukraine must first address the issue of who has the authority to seal any future deal between the two countries BEFORE a summit between their leaders.