Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of efforts to bring the war to an end.
In an open letter addressed to the Russian leader, Zelensky said it would be “wrong to simply wait” for the war in Europe to return to the centre of Washington’s attention, adding that peace could only be achieved “through direct engagement between” Ukraine and Russia.
He also urged a full ceasefire for the duration of any proposed talks, a proposal Putin had already ruled out earlier on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he believed “it would be great” if the two leaders met.
The Kremlin said it had received the letter and that Putin would be briefed on its contents.
The letter struck a defiant and at times mocking tone, highlighting Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian territory.
Zelensky wrote that “after 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll” on Putin.
The letter also included a direct invitation to talks.
“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky wrote.
The proposal is not new from the Ukrainian president. As it has done previously, the Kremlin responded by saying Zelensky was welcome to meet Putin in Moscow.
What stood out, however, was Kyiv’s public acknowledgement that the US “is fully focused on the issue of Iran”.
“It would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the centre of its attention,” Zelensky wrote.
Speaking to foreign journalists in St Petersburg, apparently before seeing the contents of the letter, Putin said he was “certainly prepared and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine”, but added that compromises would be necessary.
Putin suggested that, with Trump occupied by Iran, the European Union could persuade Zelensky to surrender territory.
Moscow has long insisted that Ukraine withdraw from four regions partially occupied by Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and abandon its ambitions to join Nato.
Ukraine has rejected any territorial concessions, arguing that doing so would only encourage Russia to launch another invasion, as it did in 2022 when it began its full-scale war eight years after illegally annexing Crimea.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled in recent months, while previous rounds of peace talks in Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul have failed to produce a breakthrough.
In the letter, which runs to more than 1,800 words, Zelensky said: “It is not as if we in Ukraine are concerned about the fate of Russian soldiers after everything your war has brought to our country.
“But I do care about Ukrainians. We are losing our people, and every loss is painful to us.”
Zelensky said Russians had grown weary of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes, fuel shortages, rising prices and the wider impact of the war.
“Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now,” he implored.
He said Ukraine was offering to end the war “through direct engagement between us”.
Zelensky suggested that direct talks could take place in a neutral country such as Switzerland or Turkey.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the letter as “this open letter is a serious and meaningful proposal to end the war”.
“We expect a meaningful response to this proposal. It’s time to end this war. It’s time to choose peace,” he added.
Zelensky’s letter was released on the same day Putin was in St Petersburg for a major economic forum.
A day earlier, Kyiv had launched a drone attack on the outskirts of the city, a strike Zelensky referred to in his message as “paying a visit”.
Separately, Russian-backed authorities in occupied Crimea accused Ukraine of killing four people in attacks on Simferopol. Ukraine said it had targeted a fuel depot.
During his press conference on Thursday, Putin appeared to cast doubt almost immediately on whether a meeting or agreement could take place.
“Whether Mr Zelensky is a legitimate representative of Ukraine, this is a question for the lawyers, for a legal analysis,” he said.
Trump said he believed the US had played an important role in pushing the two countries closer to peace.
“I think it would be great if they met. They should. Get it done,” he said.
Asked what compromises both sides would need to make, Trump said he would “rather not say”.
“I want them each to make certain compromises, and I think they’re going to do it.”
