Kyiv, Jun 05 (V7N)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as a necessary step toward ending the prolonged war between the two countries. The proposal, made through an open letter, is being viewed as Kyiv’s latest diplomatic initiative to revive stalled peace efforts.

According to a report by the BBC on Friday, Zelensky emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He argued that waiting for the war in Europe to regain priority in U.S. foreign policy would be a mistake.

In the letter, Zelensky called for a comprehensive ceasefire to be implemented during any potential negotiations. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously rejected similar proposals for a full ceasefire.

“Ukraine is offering direct dialogue between us to end this war,” Zelensky wrote, urging Putin to meet and discuss a path toward peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the possibility of direct talks between the two leaders, saying, “It would be very good if they meet. They should meet and resolve the issue.”

The Kremlin confirmed that it had received Zelensky’s letter and stated that Putin would be informed of its contents.

In the letter, Zelensky also criticized the Russian leader, suggesting that after more than two decades in power, age was beginning to affect Putin’s judgment. He further highlighted Ukraine’s recent drone and missile strikes inside Russian territory, arguing that ordinary Russians are increasingly experiencing the consequences of the conflict.

Russia has consistently demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions and abandon its ambitions to join NATO. Kyiv, however, has firmly rejected those conditions, insisting that it will not surrender any territory and warning that such concessions could encourage further Russian aggression.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire have largely stalled in recent months. Previous peace initiatives held in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul failed to produce a breakthrough.

In the more than 1,800-word letter, Zelensky stressed the human cost of the war, saying that Ukraine continues to suffer painful losses. He also pointed to the wider consequences of the conflict, including repeated attacks, energy shortages, inflation, and growing social pressure affecting both Ukrainians and Russians.

As potential venues for a meeting, Zelensky suggested neutral countries such as Switzerland or Turkey.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the proposal as a serious and meaningful effort to end the conflict, stating that the time had come to choose peace over war.

END/SMA/AJ