Putin rules out meeting Zelenskyy and vows to pursue war goals

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for direct peace talks, stating there is 'no point' until a peace deal is agreed upon and Russia's war goals are achieved. Putin reiterated Russia's demands for control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and sweeping restrictions on its neighbor. Zelenskyy criticized Putin's response as 'weak' and continues to seek diplomatic solutions with Western allies. The article also touches upon Russia's economic situation amidst the conflict and recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.