Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making the offer in a rare open letter released Thursday. The invitation came shortly after Putin acknowledged the need to bolster Russia’s air defences in response to a series of Ukrainian attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the prospect of a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky, stating that such talks would be great and encouraging both sides to seek compromise. Trump, who has frequently claimed he could end the conflict within a day if elected, told reporters in the Oval Office, I think we had a lot to do with it… They should get it done.
The Kremlin responded that Putin had not yet seen Zelensky’s letter but reiterated that the Ukrainian leader was welcome to visit Moscow at any time—a suggestion Zelensky preemptively rejected in his message. “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us—and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky wrote. He called for a specific date to be set for talks and pledged Ukraine’s readiness for a full ceasefire during negotiations.
Zelensky’s letter was published a day after Ukrainian drones struck targets in Saint Petersburg, coinciding with the city’s hosting of a major international economic forum. The Ukrainian president has long advocated for direct talks with Putin, insisting that only face-to-face negotiations can resolve the dispute over contested territories. Such direct appeals to the Russian leader are rare.
President Trump, meanwhile, addressed criticism of his approach to the conflict, noting that he had previously pressed Zelensky in the White House while also inviting Putin to a summit in Alaska. He emphasized his administration’s role in pushing for talks, though months of U.S.-led negotiations have so far failed to yield a breakthrough. Trump said, “They’re going to both make compromises, I suggested those compromises, and you know, we’ve had a lot to do with it,” without providing details.
Russia, which launched its invasion in 2022, continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donbas region—parts of which remain under Kyiv’s control—as a precondition for peace talks. Speaking to foreign journalists in Saint Petersburg before Zelensky’s letter was published, Putin once again questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his five-year term in 2024 and the imposition of martial law, which has suspended elections in Ukraine. Zelensky, for his part, has offered to hold a referendum or election on any final peace deal provided a full ceasefire is in place. However, Putin has maintained that he would only meet Zelensky to finalize an agreement, not to negotiate one from scratch.
After the letter’s release, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media, “Zelensky can come at any time to Moscow.
Ukraine has recently escalated its long-range strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure, actions it describes as justified responses to nightly Russian attacks. In his letter, Zelensky insisted, “If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence.”
Despite facing renewed Ukrainian counterattacks, Putin praised his military’s performance and said Russia was “advancing along the entire line of contact,” denying that the offensive had become a strategic failure. He reiterated Russia’s willingness to reach an agreement with Ukraine “through peaceful means.” However, Russian advances have slowed since late 2025, and independent analysis indicates Ukraine has recently regained more territory than it lost, marking the second consecutive month of net gains.
Putin also conceded the need to strengthen Russia’s air defences, particularly after Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and naval base in Saint Petersburg as the city hosted the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. Russia has an air defence system. Yes, we must improve it. Yes, we must strengthen it. And we will do so, Putin said.
