Zelenskyy writes open letter inviting Putin to talks to end Ukraine war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is prepared to implement a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations. (Reuters: Thomas Peter)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an open letter to Vladimir Putin in which he proposed the two leaders meet to agree an end to more than four years of war.

In his letter, Mr Zelenskyy said the majority of Russians had grown tired of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, inflation and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace.

The Kremlin said it had seen the letter and would brief Mr Putin on it, but the Russian leader said there were many questions needing to be answered.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The letter is the first public message Mr Zelenskyy has written directly to Mr Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

In the letter, Mr Zelenskyy gave a sweeping critique of the Russian leader's 26 years in power.

The Kremlin said it had seen the letter and would brief Mr Putin on it, but the Russian leader, speaking at a press briefing, said "there are many questions" that needed answering for a ceasefire.

"There's no need for a suspension of hostilities to begin negotiations," Mr Putin said.

Vladimir Putin did not rule out signing a peace deal with Ukraine. (Reuters: Dmitri Lovetsky/Pool)

"But if at some point we go as far as to sign documents, if there is a desire to end the armed conflict peacefully — and Russia does have this desire — we will … sign the relevant documents if there is a will to do so."

Mr Zelenskyy also acknowledged shifting US priorities in his letter, saying it would be wrong to wait for the Trump administration to return its attention to ending the war in Ukraine while it remained heavily focused on the war in Iran.

US President Donald Trump said it "would be great" if the two met. "They should get it done," he said.

Asked what concessions he had urged Mr Putin to make to end the war, Mr Trump declined to provide details but said both sides would need to compromise.

Mr Zelenskyy appeared to be trying to seize a pivotal moment in the war, as Ukraine had begun to regain some battlefield leverage largely through improved long-range strike capabilities that have complicated Russia's advances.

On Thursday this week, Ukraine released footage showing strikes on a Russian patrol ship in Crimea and on the Pantsir-S1 defence system in the Kherson region of Russia-controlled Ukraine.

At the same time, Moscow has intensified its deadly aerial campaign across