Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy published an open letter on June 4 addressed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a face-to-face meeting in a neutral third country to negotiate an end to the war. He offered a full ceasefire for the duration of any talks.
Putin’s answer arrived roughly 24 hours later. He said he saw “no point” in meeting.
What Zelenskiy actually proposed
The open letter represents one of the few direct public appeals from Zelenskiy to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Direct communication between the two leaders has been virtually nonexistent for years.
Zelenskiy’s core offer was straightforward: meet in a neutral country, halt military operations while negotiations proceed, and attempt to find a diplomatic resolution. He also made clear that if talks failed, Ukraine would resume fighting.
