Zelenskyy Proposes Face-to-Face Meeting with Putin, Calls for Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an open letter to Vladimir Putin proposing direct talks and a full ceasefire during negotiations, with the current front line as the basis for any agreement. The proposal comes after Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian targets in St. Petersburg and amid a stalled Russian offensive, while Putin has previously stated he would only meet Zelenskyy to finalize an already-agreed deal. The diplomatic initiative reflects Ukraine's military gains and mounting pressure on Russia, though months of U.S.-led negotiations have failed to produce progress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a rare open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday proposing face-to-face negotiations and offering a full ceasefire during talks, with the current front line as the starting point for any territorial agreement. The letter was published shortly after Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and naval base in St. Petersburg, where Putin was attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Putin responded through a Kremlin spokesman saying Zelenskyy could meet him in Moscow "any time," though the Ukrainian leader had preemptively rejected that location in his letter. Putin has previously stated he would only meet Zelenskyy to finalize an already-negotiated agreement, not to begin talks. The diplomatic overture occurs as Ukraine has regained territory in recent months, with data showing Kyiv recaptured more ground than it lost in May for the second consecutive month, while Russia's offensive pace has slowed since late 2025.
What different sources said
- The Moscow TimesCenter
In Open Letter to Putin, Zelensky Calls for Meeting and Ceasefire
- SemaforCenter
Zelenskyy proposes face-to-face peace talks with Putin
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