Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his push for peace by publicly inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct, face-to-face negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
In an open letter addressed to the Kremlin leader, Zelensky argued that waiting for international attention to return to the conflict would be a mistake. He stressed that lasting peace could only be achieved through direct dialogue between the two nations and proposed a personal meeting with Putin to discuss a path forward.
Call for Ceasefire During Negotiations
As part of the proposal, Zelensky urged Russia to support a complete ceasefire throughout any future peace talks. The suggestion comes despite Putin previously rejecting the idea of halting military operations during negotiations.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the conflict continues to inflict heavy losses on Ukraine and said every Ukrainian life lost in the war carries significant pain for the country.
Sharp Criticism of Putin
The letter contained several pointed remarks directed at the Russian president. Zelensky suggested that Putin’s long tenure in power may be affecting his judgment and highlighted Ukraine’s recent military operations inside Russian territory as evidence that the conflict is increasingly impacting Russia itself.
According to Zelensky, Russian citizens are facing growing challenges, including rising prices, fuel shortages in some areas, and continued disruption caused by the war. He urged Putin to choose a peaceful resolution rather than prolong the conflict.
Kremlin Responds to Proposal
The Kremlin confirmed that it had received the letter and said Putin would be informed of its contents. Russian officials reiterated that Zelensky would be welcome to travel to Moscow for discussions.
Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that he remained open to reaching an agreement with Ukraine but insisted that any settlement would require compromises from both sides.
Key Disagreements Remain
One of the largest obstacles to peace remains Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw from four partially occupied regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—and abandon its ambitions of joining NATO.
Ukraine has consistently rejected those conditions, arguing that surrendering territory would only encourage future aggression. Kyiv points to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion and the earlier annexation of Crimea as evidence that concessions would not guarantee long-term security.
Zelensky Suggests Neutral Venue
In his message, Zelensky proposed holding direct talks in a neutral country, mentioning Switzerland and Turkey as possible locations for a summit between the two leaders.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the letter as a serious effort to bring the war to an end and called on Moscow to respond constructively.
“It is time to choose peace,” Sybiha said while supporting the proposal for direct negotiations.
Trump Backs Potential Meeting
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Speaking to reporters, Trump said direct talks between the two leaders would be a positive step and could help move both countries closer to a peace agreement.
Although he declined to discuss specific concessions that might be required, Trump expressed optimism that both sides could eventually reach common ground.
Peace Efforts Face Continued Challenges
Attempts to negotiate an end to the conflict have struggled to gain momentum in recent months. Previous rounds of talks held in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul failed to produce a lasting breakthrough, while fighting has continued across multiple fronts.
Despite those setbacks, Zelensky’s latest proposal signals that Kyiv remains willing to pursue direct diplomacy in hopes of ending Europe’s largest conflict in decades.