Zelenskyy Offers Putin Direct Peace Talks, Cites Drone Strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended an offer for direct peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a desire to bypass waiting for U.S. involvement in resolving the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy proposed a meeting in an open letter, emphasizing that leaders must address key issues directly.

He suggested that Ukraine should not wait for the Ukraine war to regain international focus while the U.S. is occupied with the Iran conflict. As a first step, Zelenskyy proposed a ceasefire along the existing front lines, to be monitored by the United States. This would be followed by an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange and the return of civilians and children who were "forcibly taken away" during the war.

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I propose a meeting with you.

Zelenskyy also indicated that representatives from Europe and the United States should participate in the talks as potential guarantors. The letter, released during a press conference by Putin for international journalists at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, carried a pointed tone. Zelenskyy remarked on the positive reception in Ukraine regarding recent Ukrainian drone attacks on St. Petersburg, which traveled over 1,000 kilometers.

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President Putin said that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wants to talk.

"As you know very well, this distance is not the limit of what we are capable of," Zelenskyy wrote, referencing the drone strikes that targeted the forum. He ruled out Moscow or Kyiv as venues for a meeting, suggesting Switzerland, Turkey, or Arab nations as potential hosts.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by reiterating Putin's previous statement that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wished to talk, a proposal Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected. U.S. President Donald Trump reacted positively to the news, stating he would welcome a meeting between the two leaders. The U.S. has been urging Russia and Ukraine toward a peace settlement since last year, but Russia's demand for a Ukrainian troop withdrawal from eastern regions remains a key point of contention, which Ukraine rejects.

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As you know very well, this distance is not the limit of what we are capable of.