Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a renewed effort to end the ongoing war. In an open letter addressed to Putin, Zelensky stated that peace can only be achieved through direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. According to the Ukrainian president’s office, copies of the letter were also sent to the United States and several other countries.

Zelensky emphasized that with U.S. attention currently focused on the Iran crisis, Europe should not wait for the war in Ukraine to regain prominence in global discussions. He called for a full ceasefire to be implemented during any talks, describing it as a normal and internationally accepted practice. The Ukrainian leader also suggested setting a specific date for the meeting and noted that countries such as Switzerland, Turkey, and those in the Arab world have extensive experience in hosting peace discussions.

In his message to Putin, Zelensky urged him not to fear choosing a path out of the war, calling it the most important decision before him.