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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting to end the war. Zelensky stated that relying on a shift in U.S. political attention is the wrong approach, arguing that peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He also requested a full ceasefire for the duration of the proposed talks, a condition that Putin had already ruled out earlier on Thursday.
Donald Trump said on Thursday he thought "it would be great" if the two leaders met.
The Kremlin confirmed it had received the letter and Putin would be briefed on it.
Speaking to foreign journalists in St Petersburg, without apparently having seen the contents of the letter, Putin said he was "certainly prepared and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine", but said certain compromises needed to be made.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled in recent months, since the Iran war began and previous peace talks in Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul failed.
In the letter, which is more than 1,800 words long, Zelensky said: "It is not as if we in Ukraine are concerned about the fate of Russian soldiers after everything your war has brought to our country.
"But I do care about Ukrainians. We are losing our people, and every loss is painful to us."
Zelensky said Russians had become tired of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks, petrol shortages and rising prices, as well as war.
"Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now," he implored.
He said Ukraine was proposing to end the war "through direct engagement between us".
Zelensky said face-to-face negotiations could take place in a country such as Switzerland or Turkey.
