Zelensky Calls for Direct Summit With Putin in New Push for Peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly called for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing direct negotiations aimed at ending the more than four-year war between the two countries.
In an open letter released on June 4, Zelensky urged Putin to engage in personal talks, arguing that meaningful progress toward peace requires direct dialogue between the leaders of the two nations. He proposed that the meeting take place in a neutral country, suggesting locations such as Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab state.
Zelensky said Ukraine would be prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations, describing such a move as a standard diplomatic step that could help create conditions for productive discussions. He also proposed additional confidence-building measures, including prisoner exchanges and the return of civilians and children affected by the conflict.
The Ukrainian leader warned against delaying peace efforts, noting that global attention is increasingly divided by other international crises. He argued that both sides should pursue diplomatic solutions immediately rather than wait for shifting geopolitical circumstances.
In the letter, Zelensky maintained that Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty but stressed that a negotiated settlement remains the preferred path to ending the war. He said direct engagement between the two leaders could help address key issues that have stalled previous peace efforts.
The Kremlin confirmed that Putin had been briefed on the letter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian president had received and reviewed the message, although Moscow has continued to maintain that any summit between the two leaders would require significant progress in negotiations beforehand.
The proposal marks one of Zelensky’s most direct public appeals to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Whether the initiative leads to a breakthrough remains uncertain, but it represents the latest diplomatic effort to bring an end to Europe’s largest armed conflict in decades.

Source BBC