Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging direct negotiations aimed at ending the more than four year long war between the two countries.
In an open letter published on Thursday, Zelensky called on Putin to engage in direct talks and suggested that a neutral country such as Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab state could host the meeting. He also proposed a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations, arguing that meaningful progress toward peace requires direct engagement between the leaders of both nations.
The letter marked one of Zelensky’s most direct public appeals to Putin since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Ukrainian leader said his country does not want a prolonged conflict and expressed readiness to pursue a diplomatic solution if Moscow is willing to negotiate in good faith.
Zelensky also proposed confidence-building measures, including a comprehensive prisoner exchange and the return of civilians and children whom Ukraine says have been taken into Russian controlled territory during the war.
In the letter, the Ukrainian president argued that the war has imposed heavy military and economic costs on both countries and warned that continued hostilities could further destabilize the region. He maintained that Ukraine would continue defending itself if peace efforts failed to produce tangible results.
The Kremlin confirmed receiving the letter and said Putin would be briefed on its contents. However, Moscow has previously stated that any meeting between the two leaders would require substantial progress on a broader peace agreement beforehand.
Putin recently reiterated that he is open to a meeting with Zelensky but has insisted that such a summit should come only after negotiators finalize the framework of a long-term peace settlement.
The proposal comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of people, and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe since the start of Russia’s invasion. While international leaders have welcomed the prospect of direct talks, significant differences remain between Kyiv and Moscow over territorial control, security guarantees, and the conditions for a ceasefire.
Whether the latest initiative leads to a breakthrough remains uncertain, but Zelensky’s public appeal has added fresh momentum to discussions about a possible negotiated end to one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts in decades.
