In a significant diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a rare open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a direct, face-to-face meeting.
This development comes on the heels of the Kremlin chief admitting a need to bolster Moscow’s air defenses following a series of recent Ukrainian strikes.
US President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for an end to the conflict and previously claimed he could halt the war within 24 hours of taking office, described the potential meeting as “great” while urging both nations to find common ground.
Responding to the development, the Kremlin stated that Putin had not yet personally reviewed the correspondence.
However, Moscow indicated that Zelensky was welcome to meet Putin in the Russian capital “any time”, an option the Ukrainian president explicitly rejected ahead of time within his letter.
“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us, and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky stated in the document.
“I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting,” he continued.
“Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations,” he added.
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The open letter was made public just one day after Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Saint Petersburg, which is currently hosting a high-profile international economic forum.
Direct communication from Zelensky to Putin is an uncommon occurrence. The Ukrainian leader has consistently maintained that only direct dialogue with the Russian president can produce a definitive agreement regarding territorial disputes.
Meanwhile, President Trump has faced scrutiny over his contrasting diplomatic approach, which included a tense White House encounter with Zelensky last year alongside an invitation to Putin for a summit in Alaska. Despite the criticism, Trump expressed optimism regarding the potential dialogue.
“I glad that they’re maybe talking about meeting,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, which was the venue of his prior friction with Zelensky.
“I think we had a lot to do with it,” Trump noted. “I think it would be great if they met. They should, get it done.”
Months of American-mediated discussions have yet to yield a breakthrough, particularly as Trump’s administration has been heavily occupied by the conflict with Iran, initiated by the United States and Israel over three months ago.
“They’re going to both make compromises, I suggested those compromises, and you know, we’ve had a lot to do with it,” Trump remarked concerning the situation, though he did not provide specific details on the terms.
Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, maintains its stance that Ukraine must completely withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region, significant portions of which remain under Ukrainian control, before any formal peace negotiations can begin.
