Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday proposing they jumpstart 'direct negotiations' to end the war by fixing a date to meet face-to-face. File photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo
June 5 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him face-to-face to try to bring the four-year-long war between their two countries to an end.
In an open letter to Putin late Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine wanted to end the conflict through "direct engagement," adding that it was incumbent on the sides to act, rather than waiting for Washington to take the lead -- but other agreed participants such as the United States and European nations "could join the bilateral track" once it was established.
"We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran, and it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention. Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us -- and you. This must be done honestly, with dignity, and with guarantees that the war will not be reignited. I am proposing a meeting," wrote Zelensky.
Russia was on the back foot, on the front and from daily Ukrainian drone and missile strikes, and Putin was running out of time and resources while fuel shortages and constantly rising prices from his endless war were testing the patience of the Russian people, Zelensky said.
