Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year term as head of state has expired. Zelensky has now expired. In this situation, if Russia and Ukraine sit for peace talks, the issue will create a legal obstacle.

It has been three years since the start of the all-out invasion by Russian forces in Ukraine. Also, Ukraine has been under martial law for three years. Zelensky completed his five-year term as president this week. But with martial law in place in war-torn Ukraine, fresh elections are not being held.

According to a Reuters report on Friday, the negotiated ceasefire is effective and President Putin is willing to stop the war in Ukraine. This news has been published on the basis of four Russian sources. But Putin is determined to continue the war if Kiev and its Western allies do not respond.

Soon after, Putin spoke about Zelensky’s term as president. During a televised press conference during his visit to Belarus, Putin said there was a problem with Zelensky’s status.

Pointing to the peace talks, Putin said, ‘Who will he negotiate with? It is not an idle question. We understand that his legitimacy as head of state has already passed.

However, Ukrainian officials have dismissed any objections to the validity of Zelensky’s position as head of state during the war.

Ruslan Stepanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, said last week that anyone who questions the legitimacy of President Zelensky’s tenure is spreading false information. Only enemies of Ukraine can raise such questions.