Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a direct face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an unusually personal appeal aimed at breaking the deadlock in the war.
In a recent open letter, Zelensky urged both sides to set a clear date for negotiations and proposed a temporary ceasefire to allow talks to proceed. He said Ukraine was prepared to halt hostilities during any negotiation period, framing direct engagement as the only realistic path towards ending the conflict.
The move came shortly after Putin acknowledged that Russia must improve and strengthen its air defence systems following a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes, including attacks reaching Saint Petersburg during a major economic forum.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, describing it as a positive step while again insisting that both Ukraine and Russia would need to make concessions. He claimed his administration had helped encourage the idea of talks, though he did not outline specific compromises.
Despite the public call, the Kremlin said Putin had not yet seen Zelensky’s letter. Russian officials reiterated that the president would only meet Zelensky to finalise an already agreed deal, and suggested Moscow as a potential venue — a proposal previously rejected by the Ukrainian leader.
Zelensky’s appeal also followed intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian infrastructure, which Kyiv describes as retaliation for ongoing Russian attacks on its territory. He warned that Ukraine would continue fighting if Russia did not move towards ending the war.
Putin, meanwhile, repeated claims that Russian forces were advancing along the front line and questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, noting that Ukraine has not held elections under martial law. Kyiv argues elections cannot take place while the country remains under invasion.
On the battlefield, independent analysis suggests shifting momentum, with Ukraine reportedly regaining more territory than it lost in recent months, according to data cited from conflict monitors.
Putin also conceded that Russia needs to further strengthen its air defence network, following Ukrainian strikes on strategic targets, including energy and naval facilities.
