Zelenskyy calls for face-to-face talks with Putin in public letter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly called for direct, face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy's appeal, conveyed in a public letter, marks the first such direct address since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The letter also offered a sweeping critique of Putin's 26-year tenure.

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I am proposing a meeting

Zelenskyy's proposal comes at a critical juncture in the conflict. Ukraine has recently bolstered its battlefield position, partly due to enhanced long-range strike capabilities. Simultaneously, Russia has escalated its aerial assaults across Ukraine, aiming to exploit Kyiv's vulnerabilities and missile defense shortages.

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Russia has an air defence system, we need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that.

In response, Putin acknowledged the impact of Ukrainian drone attacks, some of which have penetrated deep into Russian territory. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he stated Russia's commitment to improving and strengthening its air defense systems. Putin also reiterated Russia's openness to a compromise, referencing understandings from a previous summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump, and suggested Ukraine should accept these terms to end the conflict.

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To our regret, some of them break through.

Former President Trump commented on the potential meeting, expressing his approval and suggesting that both sides would need to make compromises, a stance he indicated he had influenced. The proposed negotiations, according to Zelenskyy's letter, could be hosted by a neutral third country, excluding both Moscow and Kyiv, with Switzerland, Turkey, or Arab nations suggested as potential venues.

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I think it would be great if they met. They should – get it done.