Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Ukraine is ready for negotiations at the leaders' level 'at any time.' The remarks came after Putin expressed support for peace negotiations, though he offered no concessions and boasted about Russian advances on the frontline.
Zelenskyy said, 'If these are signals of a genuine willingness to end the war with dignity and establish a truly lasting peace... then Ukraine once again reaffirms its readiness to meet at the level of leaders at any time.' He added, 'We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war.'
The Ukrainian leader also thanked US President Donald Trump for his efforts to end the conflict, acknowledging the importance of Washington's response to Putin's latest statements. Zelenskyy's call for direct talks comes after a Russian attack on Kyiv killed 31 people and injured over 150.
In other developments, Germany confirmed it is working to deploy Patriot missile systems to Ukraine 'in the coming days.' Meanwhile, a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine was scheduled for later today.
