Zelenskyy calls on Putin for direct talks to end Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in direct talks to end the war, arguing that continued fighting is harming Russia’s resources and international standing. In an open letter, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has withstood more than four years of full‑scale war despite Moscow’s expectations of a quick collapse. “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting.”

Neutral location and conditions

Zelenskyy proposed organising a direct presidential meeting in a neutral location, naming Switzerland, Türkiye, or Arab states as potential hosts. He said Europe and the US should participate in a broader process to establish security guarantees and a new regional security architecture. Ukraine is prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations, conduct an all‑for‑all prisoner exchange, and take steps to return displaced civilians and children. Zelenskyy also claimed that Russia “would not have been able to cope without North Korea’s help” and is “fully dependent on China — also for the first time in Russia’s history.”