KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct negotiations aimed at ending the war, proposing a face-to-face meeting in a neutral country as both sides continue to face military and political pressures more than four years into the conflict.
In a public letter released Thursday, Zelenskyy addressed Putin directly for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The message combined a proposal for renewed diplomacy with a sharp critique of Russia’s leadership and its conduct during the war.
“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote, urging direct engagement between the two leaders and arguing that key decisions about the conflict ultimately require political leadership rather than lower-level negotiations.
The proposal comes as international efforts to secure a lasting settlement have struggled to produce meaningful progress, while fighting continues across multiple fronts.
Neutral Venue Proposed for Direct Talks
Zelenskyy said any meeting should take place outside both Ukraine and Russia, suggesting a neutral host country for negotiations.
Among the possible venues he identified were Switzerland, Turkey and several Arab states. He also called for a clear date to be established for a leaders’ summit, arguing that direct dialogue offers the best opportunity to address major unresolved issues.
“It is leaders who resolve the key issues,” Zelenskyy wrote. “That has always been the case, and it always will be.”
As part of his proposal, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would be prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations. He also suggested an all-for-all prisoner exchange as an initial confidence-building measure and called for the return of civilians and children taken from Ukraine during the war.
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Trump Encourages Direct Engagement
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the prospect of direct talks between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
Speaking Thursday, Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy met and encouraged both sides to reach an agreement.
Asked about potential compromises required to end the conflict, Trump said both countries would need to make concessions but did not provide details about any proposals he may have discussed with either side.
“They’re going to both make compromises,” Trump said. “I suggested those compromises.”
Zelenskyy acknowledged changing priorities in Washington, noting that it would be unwise for Ukraine to simply wait for the U.S. administration to refocus its attention on the war while the conflict involving Iran remains a major concern for American policymakers.
Battlefield Developments Shape Diplomatic Push
The diplomatic appeal comes at a time when both Ukraine and Russia are attempting to improve their positions on and beyond the battlefield.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has strengthened its long-range strike capabilities, allowing it to challenge Russian operations and complicate Moscow’s military advances.
At the same time, Russian forces have intensified aerial attacks across Ukraine, increasing pressure on Ukrainian defenses through missile and drone strikes.
Zelenskyy argued that Russia is facing growing costs from the prolonged conflict. He pointed to economic pressures, fuel shortages, rising prices and the need for continued military mobilization as signs of strain within Russia.
The Ukrainian president also claimed that Russia suffered more than 30,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded during May, citing what he described as video-confirmed battlefield losses. He added that Ukraine continues to sustain significant casualties despite what he characterized as a more favorable loss ratio.
Those casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Concerns Over a Prolonged Conflict
In his letter, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest Russia may be preparing for a prolonged war extending into 2027 and 2028.
He claimed Moscow is increasingly relying on ballistic missile attacks to achieve objectives that have proven difficult to secure through ground operations.
Zelenskyy also accused Russia of attempting to expand instability beyond Ukraine’s borders. He alleged that Moscow is seeking to draw Belarus more deeply into the conflict and is attempting to influence developments around Transnistria, the Russian-backed breakaway region of Moldova.
Russian officials have not publicly responded to those specific claims.
Diplomatic Uncertainty Remains
The proposal for direct talks arrives amid continued uncertainty over how and when the conflict might end.
Previous diplomatic efforts have failed to bridge major differences between Kyiv and Moscow, and there has been little indication of a breakthrough despite repeated international initiatives.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy used the letter to argue that support for Ukraine remains intact while suggesting that international patience with Russia is diminishing.
“The world has not grown tired of Ukraine,” he wrote. “But there is growing fatigue with Russia.”
Whether the proposal results in a direct meeting between the two leaders remains unclear. For now, the public appeal represents one of Kyiv’s most direct attempts in recent years to revive high-level negotiations while the war continues on the battlefield.
