Zelensky Challenges Putin: “Set a Date” for Face-to-Face Talks to End the War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a direct public appeal to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, urging him to agree to a personal meeting aimed at ending the war and warning that the conflict cannot continue indefinitely. The letter, published on June 4 and set to be delivered to Moscow through diplomatic channels, appeared one day after Ukraine carried out a major drone operation targeting military facilities and a key oil terminal in St. Petersburg while Putin was hosting international guests at Russia’s flagship economic forum.

In the letter, Zelensky argued that the war has become inseparable from Putin’s political legacy. “Almost half of your 26 years of power in Russia you have spent in the war against Ukraine,” he wrote, adding that history would remember the invasion as “your personal choice – a war without a real reason.” He dismissed Kremlin narratives about NATO, geopolitics, and language issues, saying they could not justify the destruction caused by the conflict.

The Ukrainian president pointed to Russia’s inability to achieve its original military goals in 2022, the impact of Western sanctions, mounting battlefield losses, and growing dissatisfaction among ordinary Russians. According to Zelensky, Russian citizens are increasingly frustrated by rising prices, fuel shortages, restrictions, and the possibility of further mobilization. “They do not like your intention to organize a second wave of mobilization,” he wrote, arguing that many Russians no longer see an end to the conflict.

As part of his proposal, Zelensky invited Putin to meet in a neutral country and discuss a framework for peace. He suggested that a full ceasefire could take effect during negotiations and proposed beginning the process with an all-for-all prisoner exchange. “Ukraine offers to end this war,” Zelensky said. “We must do it honestly, with dignity, and guarantee that there will be no new outbreak of war. I propose a meeting with you.”

The Ukrainian leader also called for the United States and Europe to participate in future negotiations, arguing that both sides would require credible security guarantees. He suggested that Washington could help monitor compliance with a ceasefire along the front line. Countries such as Switzerland, Türkiye, and several Arab states, he said, could serve as hosts for direct talks.

Zelensky criticized what he described as Moscow’s delaying tactics and repeated maximalist demands. “The front line now is the line from which diplomacy should begin,” he wrote, insisting that negotiations should focus on practical solutions rather than attempts to prolong the conflict. He added that the decisions made now would shape the future of both Ukrainians and Russians for generations.

The letter also contained a warning. Zelensky said Ukraine would continue fighting if Russia refused to pursue a genuine settlement. “Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence,” he wrote. “We will have those who will support us. But you will also have to fight much more for your existence – not Russia’s, but your own.” He further urged Putin not to allow the war to drag into 2027 and 2028.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the letter as a serious proposal and confirmed that it would be formally transmitted to Russia through diplomatic channels. “This open letter is a serious and meaningful proposal to end the war,” Sybiha said, adding that Kyiv expects a substantive response from Moscow.

The Kremlin acknowledged receiving the message. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the letter would be presented to Putin but repeated Moscow’s long-standing position that Zelensky could travel to Russia if he wanted direct talks. “If Zelensky wants to meet Putin, he can come to Moscow,” Peskov said.

The exchange comes amid renewed discussion about negotiations. During a May appearance, Putin indicated for the first time that he could meet Zelensky in a third country and suggested that the war might end relatively soon. On June 4, he again claimed that Russia was ready to reach a settlement through peaceful means and said Moscow remained committed to compromises discussed during his August 2025 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage.

According to Putin, Russia is prepared to proceed on the basis of understandings reached during those discussions, though he insisted Ukraine would also have to accept concessions. Moscow has repeatedly referred to the Anchorage summit, where Russian officials reportedly sought U.S. pressure on Kyiv regarding territory in the Donbas region.

The latest diplomatic maneuvering comes as Ukraine continues to intensify strikes deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian forces recently targeted the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and other facilities linked to Russia’s military and energy sectors, increasing pressure on the Kremlin and bringing the war closer to Russian population centers.

Speaking at the White House, President Donald Trump welcomed the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders. “I think it would be great if they met. They should get it done,” Trump said, describing both Putin and Zelensky as “very good people.” He added that the United States had worked extensively to create conditions for dialogue.

Zelensky has repeatedly argued that the coming months may represent the best opportunity for diplomacy before winter returns. He recently said Ukraine has regained some initiative on the battlefield and expanded its ability to strike targets inside Russia, creating new leverage for negotiations. “Before the winter, we need to find a way, a diplomatic way, to sit and to speak,” he said.

Whether the letter leads to direct talks remains uncertain, but it marks one of the most explicit public invitations yet from Kyiv for a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, placing responsibility squarely on Moscow to decide whether negotiations will move forward or the war will continue.

Sources:

• The Kyiv Independent
• Ukrainska Pravda
• RBC-Ukraine