Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to find a path toward ending the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
In an open letter addressed to Putin, Zelensky said it would be wrong to wait for international attention to return to the conflict and stressed that lasting peace could only be achieved through direct negotiations between the two leaders. He also called for a full ceasefire during any future talks.
The Kremlin confirmed that it had received the letter and said Putin would be informed of its contents. However, Russia has continued to maintain its position that any peace agreement would require major compromises from Ukraine.
Zelensky suggested that talks could take place in a neutral country such as Switzerland or Turkey. He emphasized the human cost of the war and said Ukraine continues to suffer painful losses as the conflict drags on.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he remained open to negotiations but repeated Moscow’s demands regarding Ukrainian territory and security arrangements. Ukraine has rejected any proposal that would involve giving up its territory.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the idea of direct talks, saying it would be positive if both leaders met and worked toward a settlement.
Despite previous rounds of negotiations in different countries, no breakthrough has been achieved so far. The latest proposal highlights renewed efforts to revive diplomacy amid continuing military operations on both sides.
