Zelenskyy Proposes Face-to-Face Negotiations With Putin in Open Letter

Proposal for Direct Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a public letter addressed directly to the Russian leader. In the correspondence, Zelenskyy proposed that the two leaders meet in a neutral third country to discuss ending the conflict.

Zelenskyy stated in the letter that Ukraine is proposing to end the war through "direct engagement between us – and you". Along with the request for a meeting, Zelenskyy indicated he was ready for a "full ceasefire".

Content of the Letter

The open letter, which exceeds 1,800 words in length, is the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The text includes a sweeping critique of Vladimir Putin's 26 years in power.

Zelenskyy addressed the human cost of the conflict, stating, "But I do care about Ukrainians. We are losing our people, and every loss is painful to us". He further asserted that Russian citizens have become tired of war, rising prices, petrol shortages, and Ukrainian drone and missile attacks.

In a direct appeal to the Russian president, Zelenskyy wrote: "Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now".

Kremlin Response

The Kremlin responded by stating that President Putin had not yet been shown the letter. However, the Kremlin noted that Zelenskyy could meet with Putin in Moscow "any time".

This suggestion of a meeting in Russia was preemptively ruled out by Zelenskyy in his original proposal, where he specified the need for a neutral third country.

Diplomatic Context

The call for negotiations comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that both sides involved in the conflict must "make compromises".