Zelenskyy Writes Directly to Putin, Demands Face-to-Face Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sent a public letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for direct, in-person negotiations to end the war. It is the first time Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. In the letter, Zelenskyy proposed meeting in a neutral third country. He also issued a sweeping criticism of Putin’s 26 years in power. The call comes as former US President Donald Trump said both sides must “make compromises” to reach a peace deal. Zelenskyy’s request marks a significant shift in his public stance, as he has previously ruled out direct talks with Putin unless Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory.