Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directly reached out to Vladimir Putin, suggesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss ending the ongoing conflict. In his letter to the Russian President, Zelenskyy hinted at a potential coup in Russia while emphasizing the need for direct engagement to stop the war. He highlighted the challenges Putin is facing, citing a report indicating significant losses among Russian soldiers in May.
Expressing concern for Ukrainians, Zelenskyy dismissed the idea of meeting in Moscow, proposing neutral locations such as Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab country for their meeting. He emphasized the role of leaders in resolving critical issues and suggested the involvement of Europe and the US in providing security guarantees for the meeting, with Ukraine prepared to observe a full ceasefire during negotiations.
Towards the conclusion of the letter, Zelenskyy noted the tough battle Putin may face for his own survival, hinting at potential internal struggles within Russia. Despite this, he emphasized that change is inevitable when a nation faces fatigue, drawing from Russian historical precedents.
In response, Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated the invitation for Zelenskyy to visit Moscow for a potential meeting with the Russian President.