Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly called for face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter, marking the first direct written appeal since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. Zelenskyy proposed a meeting in a neutral third country, suggesting Switzerland, Turkey, or Arab states as possible hosts, and ruled out Moscow or Kyiv as venues.
In the letter, Zelenskyy criticised Putin's 26-year rule and accused Russia of planning to prolong the war into 2027 and 2028 while relying increasingly on ballistic missile strikes. He also claimed Moscow was seeking to draw Belarus deeper into the conflict and destabilise the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria.
The appeal comes as Ukraine has regained some battlefield leverage through improved long-range strike capabilities, complicating Russian advances. However, Moscow has intensified its aerial campaign, exploiting Ukraine's shortages and vulnerability to ballistic missile attacks. Putin acknowledged Ukrainian drone strikes reaching deep into Russia, including an attack that set ablaze an oil terminal in St Petersburg ahead of his economic forum.
Putin said Russia was open to compromise on Ukraine based on understandings reached at his summit with Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, and that Ukraine must accept them. Trump, meanwhile, said it would be 'great' for Zelenskyy to meet Putin but stressed both sides must make compromises, without elaborating.
The US House of Representatives passed legislation providing over $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid to Ukraine, with another $8 billion available through loans, overriding Republican objections. The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin was aware of the letter but had not yet studied it in detail, repeating that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wanted talks.
