Zelensky Urges Meeting & Ceasefire to Putin in Open Letter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter published on Thursday. The proposal came after Ukrainian drones hit Saint Petersburg during an international economic forum hosted by Putin’s home city, this week.

US President Donald Trump supported the idea of a meeting between the two leaders but emphasized that both sides must compromise to end the conflict. He stated that he played a role in facilitating the discussion and expressed his hope for a successful outcome.

The Kremlin has not yet seen Zelensky’s letter but suggested Putin could meet with Zelensky at any time, an offer the Ukrainian leader rejected in his letter. Zelensky proposed setting a clear date for the meeting, agreeing to a full ceasefire during negotiations.

Zelensky’s proposal comes after recent attacks by Ukrainian drones on Saint Petersburg and Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw from its eastern Donbas region as a precondition for peace talks. Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy since his initial five-year term expired in 2024, with martial law prohibiting elections during wartime.

Russia has been advancing along the entire line of contact, according to Putin, and he stated that Russia is willing to reach an agreement through peaceful means. The pace of Russia’s advance has slowed since late 2025, but Ukraine has regained more territory than it lost in May for the second straight month.