Putin questions Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus, on Friday (Dmitriy Azarov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited his Belarusian counterpart and close ally for talks on Friday in Minsk, after which he questioned whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the legitimacy to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf.

Russia is willing to hold talks about the war in Ukraine, Mr Putin said, but Mr Zelenskyy’s five-year term in office was supposed to end on May 20.