Zelensky calls for face-to-face talks with Putin to end Ukraine-Russia war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war between the two countries.

In an open letter published while Putin was speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Zelensky urged the Russian leader to engage in direct negotiations and agree to a ceasefire.

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“We can all see that Russians are finally becoming less comfortable with this reality — with the fact that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia,” Zelensky wrote.

“They do not like the fact that there is no end in sight to your war,” he added.

Zelensky also claimed Putin continues to delay military objectives in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Donetsk.

“And you will not capture it this year either,” he said.

The Ukrainian president proposed holding talks in a third country and said a clear date should be agreed upon. He stressed that a full ceasefire must be in place before discussions begin.

“An attempt to establish real silence is the best way to begin talking to one another,” Zelensky wrote.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin had received the letter and said Putin would be briefed on it.

Peskov also stated that if Zelensky wished to meet Putin, “he can come to Moscow.”

Meanwhile, Putin said proposals made by US President Donald Trump could “be the basis” for future peace agreements.