Zelensky wants face-to-face meeting with Putin in bid to end war

International

By MyTVCebu Desk

UKRANIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a renewed bid to end the war.

The proposal was made in an open letter addressed directly to the Russian president.

The document marks a shift in Kyiv's public diplomacy, openly acknowledging that the current U.S. administration is heavily preoccupied with escalating tensions involving Iran.

"It would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the centre of [the US's] attention," Zelensky wrote. He also suggested neutral venues like Switzerland or Turkey for direct bilateral negotiations.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported the prospect of a meeting, a report by BBC said.

"I think it would be great if they met. They should. Get it done," Trump told reporters. He added that he expects "certain compromises" from both sides, though he declined to specify details.

Alongside the proposal, the letter included sharp personal and military critiques. Zelensky noted that "after 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll" on Putin. He also referenced a recent Ukrainian drone strike near St. Petersburg, describing the attack as "paying a visit" to the Russian president's home region.

Addressing the human cost, Zelensky wrote candidly about the impact of the conflict on his nation.

"It is not as if we in Ukraine are concerned about the fate of Russian soldiers... But I do care about Ukrainians. We are losing our people, and every loss is painful to us," he said.

The Kremlin confirmed receipt of the letter. However, during an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin raised questions regarding Zelensky's official standing.

"Whether Mr. Zelensky is a legitimate representative of Ukraine, this is a question for the lawyers," Putin said. He suggested that European Union leaders should instead convince Ukraine to surrender territory while Washington is occupied.

Meanwhile, Moscow maintains its demands that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. It also demands that Ukraine permanently drop its NATO bid. Kyiv has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, stating they would only invite future aggression.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha defended the initiative, calling the document a "serious and meaningful proposal to end the war."

The letter concluded with a direct appeal to the Russian public, urging them to choose a diplomatic path out of a conflict causing domestic fuel shortages, inflation, and fatigue from drone strikes.

"Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now," Zelensky wrote.(Hanna Jane Cabasag, CNU COMM Intern)