Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter Thursday, calling for a full ceasefire during negotiations. The Kremlin said Putin had not yet seen the letter but that Zelenskyy could meet him in Moscow "any time" - a proposal the Ukrainian leader preemptively ruled out.
"Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us - and you. I am proposing a meeting," Zelenskyy wrote. He called for a clear date and offered a ceasefire for the duration of talks.
The letter came a day after Ukrainian drones struck Saint Petersburg, home to Putin's major economic forum. Zelenskyy has long insisted only face-to-face talks can yield a territorial agreement.
Putin, speaking in Saint Petersburg before the letter was published, questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy as president, noting his term expired in 2024. Martial law prohibits elections during wartime. Putin said he would only meet Zelenskyy to finalize an already agreed deal.
Meanwhile, Ukraine recaptured more territory than it lost in May for the second straight month, according to AFP analysis of ISW data. Putin acknowledged Russia must "strengthen" its air defenses after the Saint Petersburg drone strikes.