You can stop your war’: Zelenskyy invites Putin for direct peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct, face-to-face peace talks in an effort to end the ongoing Ukraine war.
In a public letter—the first one Zelenskyy has addressed directly to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022—he called for a meeting in a neutral country and urged both sides to work toward a peaceful solution.
Zelenskyy suggested countries such as Switzerland, Turkey, or several Arab nations as possible hosts for the talks. He emphasized that major conflicts are ultimately resolved by national leaders and proposed setting a specific date for the meeting.
The Ukrainian leader also said Ukraine is ready to implement a full ceasefire during negotiations. As a confidence-building measure, he proposed an all-for-all prisoner exchange and called for the return of Ukrainian civilians and children taken during the conflict.
The proposal comes at a time when the war remains intense. Ukraine has increased its long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, while Russia continues large-scale missile and aerial attacks across Ukraine.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian drone attacks have caused damage inside Russia. He said Russia would strengthen its air defense systems to counter future attacks.
Putin also stated that Russia remains open to a compromise, provided Ukraine accepts conditions discussed during recent talks involving U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump welcomed the possibility of a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting, calling it a positive step and saying both sides would need to make compromises to reach a settlement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would provide more than $1 billion in aid for Ukraine and authorize additional defense loans. However, the legislation still faces uncertainty in the Senate.
In his letter, Zelenskyy claimed Russia is preparing for a prolonged conflict that could continue into 2027 or 2028. He also argued that Russia is facing growing economic pressure, military losses, rising prices, and fuel shortages as the war drags on.
Despite ongoing losses on both sides, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine remains committed to finding a path toward peace. He concluded by saying that international support for Ukraine remains strong while global patience with Russia is wearing thin.
Whether the proposed meeting will take place remains unclear. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin had not yet reviewed the letter but repeated that Zelenskyy could travel to Moscow for talks if he wished.
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