Zelensky Urges Direct Peace Talks With Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a face-to-face meeting as part of efforts to bring an end to the ongoing war between the two countries.

In a public letter addressed to Putin, Zelensky argued that waiting for the conflict to regain the full attention of the United States would be a mistake. He stressed that lasting peace could only be achieved through direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

The Ukrainian leader also urged Russia to agree to a complete ceasefire throughout any future peace discussions, although Putin had earlier rejected the idea of a full halt in fighting during negotiations.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump voiced support for a potential meeting between the two leaders, saying such talks would be beneficial and could help move peace efforts forward.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin had received Zelensky’s letter and would be informed of its contents.

The message carried a firm tone and included references to Ukraine’s recent military operations inside Russian territory. Zelensky also took a personal swipe at the Russian president, suggesting that after more than two decades in power, age may be affecting Putin’s judgment.

At the center of the letter was a fresh invitation for direct dialogue.

“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us,” Zelensky wrote, calling on Putin to meet personally to discuss a path toward peace.

Although the proposal is not new, it represents another attempt by Kyiv to restart meaningful negotiations. In response, Russian officials repeated their position that Zelensky could meet Putin in Moscow if he wished.

One notable aspect of the letter was Zelensky’s acknowledgment that Washington is currently focused on developments involving Iran, reducing international attention on the war in Ukraine.

He warned against delaying peace efforts while waiting for global priorities to shift back toward Europe.

Speaking during an event in St. Petersburg, Putin said he remained open to reaching an agreement with Ukraine but insisted that any settlement would require compromises from both sides.

The Russian president reiterated Moscow’s long-standing demands, including Ukraine’s withdrawal from four regions largely occupied by Russian forces—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—and the abandonment of its ambitions to join NATO.

Ukraine has consistently rejected these conditions, arguing that surrendering territory would only encourage further Russian aggression in the future. Kyiv points to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, which followed the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire have made little progress in recent months. Previous rounds of talks held in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul have failed to produce a breakthrough.

In his letter, Zelensky emphasized the human cost of the conflict, saying Ukraine continues to suffer painful losses as the war drags on.

While stating that he is primarily concerned about Ukrainian citizens, he argued that ordinary Russians are also feeling the effects of the conflict through rising prices, fuel shortages, and ongoing drone and missile attacks.

He urged Putin to take steps toward ending the war, describing direct negotiations as the most practical path forward.

According to Zelensky, a summit could be held in a neutral location such as Switzerland or Turkey.

The appeal came as Putin attended a major economic forum in St. Petersburg. Earlier in the week, Ukrainian drones targeted areas near the city, an incident Zelensky referenced in his message.

Separately, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea accused Ukraine of carrying out attacks that resulted in four deaths in Simferopol. Ukrainian officials said their forces had targeted a fuel storage facility.

On Friday, Ukrainian authorities reported that at least four people were killed following a Russian strike on a food company facility near Kyiv.

Despite expressing openness to talks, Putin continued to question Zelensky’s political legitimacy, repeating Moscow’s claim that Ukraine has not held a presidential election since Zelensky’s term officially expired in May 2024.

Ukraine maintains that elections cannot be conducted while martial law remains in effect, a measure introduced following Russia’s invasion.

Trump, commenting on the conflict, said he believes the United States has played an important role in bringing both sides closer to negotiations.

He encouraged the two leaders to meet directly and suggested that compromises would be necessary from both governments to achieve a lasting settlement, though he declined to specify what those concessions should be.

The prospect of direct talks remains uncertain, but Zelensky’s latest proposal highlights Kyiv’s continued push for diplomatic engagement as the war enters another prolonged phase.