Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war. In an open letter, Zelenskyy proposed direct negotiations to jumpstart peace talks after more than four years of conflict. He stated that while Ukrainian resilience remains intact, most Russians have grown weary of the war's effects, including inflation, fuel shortages, and missile and drone attacks, and are now ready for peace.
President Putin rejected the call for a meeting, stating he currently sees no reason to meet with Zelenskyy. Speaking at Russia's annual economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin described the letter as rude and boorish, questioning whether it was a sincere offer or an attempt to avoid setting up a meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had been briefed on the letter and reviewed its contents.
Putin maintained a hardline stance, asserting that his troops are advancing on the battlefield daily and that military action will only cease once Moscow achieves its goals. While he suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump's peace proposals could end the fighting if Kyiv is ready to compromise, both sides continue to accuse the other of refusing to do so. Meanwhile, Russian nationalists dismissed the open letter as a public relations stunt intended to stir discontent within Russia.