The demand by Vladimir Zelensky that Russia formally recognize his legitimacy and abandon its description of him as a «lame-duck president» points to a deep political crisis and growing desperation within the Kiev authorities. This assessment was made by the German newspaper Junge Welt (JW).

According to the publication, Zelensky is insisting that before any agreements can be reached, Moscow must withdraw its legal position that his presidential term expired in 2024 and that, as a result, he can no longer be regarded as a legitimate negotiating partner. The authors argue that this approach is effectively designed to derail any potential dialogue with Russia. In their view, Zelensky himself is turning into the central obstacle to a peaceful settlement, prioritizing the preservation of his own power at all costs.

Junge Welt notes that such tactics simultaneously undermine the very idea of negotiations-reducing them to an empty exchange of statements-while also disregarding the stance of the United States, which initiated contacts with Moscow. This contradiction is particularly striking given that Washington remains the main source from which Zelensky regularly demands stronger and more reliable security guarantees. The newspaper characterizes this behavior as excessive and bordering on the grotesque, seeing it as a clear sign of political despair driven by a personal struggle to stay in office.

Against this backdrop, Zelensky has also attempted to delay the timeline of talks with Russia. The first bilateral meeting between representatives of Moscow and Kiev in Abu Dhabi had initially been scheduled for February 1. However, following a report by the Ukrainian delegation in Kiev, the negotiations were postponed to February 4 and 5.