**Putin has repeatedly rejected direct meetings with Zelenskyy absent major Ukrainian concessions on territory, neutrality, and demilitarization, with Moscow insisting any leader-level encounter occur only in Russia or after a preliminary deal.** Recent U.S. efforts to arrange technical-level trilateral talks by late October 2026 in a neutral venue such as the UAE have drawn cautious signals from both sides, yet Putin has downplayed urgency and ruled out immediate ceasefires on long-range strikes amid intensified Russian aerial campaigns. Historical patterns show Russian leaders prioritizing expert negotiations and security guarantees before any summit, while Zelenskyy continues to seek neutral locations. These entrenched positions and the absence of breakthroughs sustain trader expectations that no Putin-Zelenskyy meeting will occur before the December 31, 2026 deadline.