Zelensky urges Putin for direct talks as US focus shifts to Iran

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for a face-to-face meeting to negotiate an end to the war through direct engagement. In the correspondence, which exceeds 1,800 words, Zelensky argued that it is "wrong to simply wait" for the conflict in Europe to regain prominence in United States foreign policy, noting that Washington is currently "fully focused on the issue of Iran."

The Ukrainian leader proposed a full ceasefire to remain in effect during the duration of the proposed negotiations. He suggested Switzerland or Turkey as potential venues for the talks and urged Putin to act before American attention shifts away from the region. Zelensky highlighted the impact of the war on Russian citizens, citing drone and missile attacks, petrol shortages, rising prices, and war fatigue, while also referencing a recent Ukrainian drone strike on the outskirts of St Petersburg as a demonstration of capability.

Speaking to foreign journalists at an economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin expressed willingness to reach an agreement but attached significant conditions, including Russian control of the Donbas region. He questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy as a representative of Ukraine, stating that this was a matter for legal analysis. Putin also suggested that the European Union could pressure Zelensky into surrendering the Donbas area, contradicting Zelensky’s assertion in the letter that Russia would not capture the region.

US President Donald Trump welcomed the proposal, stating it would be "great" if the leaders met. He claimed the United States had been instrumental in bringing the two sides closer to peace and indicated that both parties would need to make compromises, though he declined to specify what those terms might be. The Kremlin confirmed it had received the letter and that Putin would be briefed on its contents.

Tensions remain high as ceasefire negotiations have stalled in recent months, coinciding with the onset of the Iran war and following failed peace talks in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul. Meanwhile, Russian-backed authorities in occupied Crimea blamed Ukraine for the deaths of four people in Simferopol after a fuel depot was struck, an incident Ukraine confirmed but did not attribute casualties to. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked that the US stance on Ukraine was "no different" to its European allies, noting that "Biden’s war has become Trump’s war."