Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed deeper peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a combative open letter on Thursday, hoping that face-to-face interactions could generate momentum for a diplomatic solution after four years of war.
Mr. Zelenskyy floated direct negotiations hosted by Switzerland, Turkey or “countries of the Arab world,” adding that talks could not take place in Moscow or Kyiv.
“After these 26 years, there is nothing for a Ukrainian leader to do in your capital — just as there is nothing for a Russian leader to do in Kyiv,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote in the letter. “It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be.”
Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy said, is prepared to agree to a complete ceasefire for the duration of negotiations and insisted that Kyiv is not looking for a “permanent war.”
However, he insisted that Ukraine would not negotiate with Russia without the European Union leaders present and hoped that the U.S. would serve as monitors of a potential ceasefire.
Mr. Zelenskyy concluded the letter by reminding Mr. Putin that Ukraine sees the war as a battle for its survival and would fight on if Russia did not choose peace.
“If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence. We will have those who support us,” he wrote. “It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: When Russia grows tired, change comes. We can work toward that fatigue. You can stop your war.”
The letter was published one day after Ukraine launched a massive drone and missile assault on St. Petersburg, Russia, striking at critical military and energy infrastructure in the city. The attacks came as Mr. Putin hosted a score of international experts and leaders at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia’s flagship economic conference.
Russia said Thursday that Mr. Putin has been briefed on the letter and reiterated that Mr. Zelenskyy is welcome to attend peace negotiations in Moscow at any time.
Mr. Putin, for his part, rejected the participation of EU officials in negotiations, arguing that countries involved in supplying weapons to Ukraine cannot be neutral. He also called on Ukraine to surrender all of the Donetsk region, a heavily contested territory on Ukraine’s eastern border.
President Trump expressed general support for the idea of direct talks between the two leaders, calling them both “very good people.” He also reiterated that Ukraine could not have withstood Russia’s advance without U.S. support.
“Without our military and our equipment, Ukraine would not be able to continue the fight today. Without the equipment that I provided them, Ukraine would not have lasted even a day or two,” Mr. Trump said.
The letter comes as U.S.-led peace efforts over Ukraine have taken a backseat as Mr. Trump deals with the simmering Iran war and its consequences. Washington had organized the first trilateral talks with the two countries earlier this year, with the first round in Abu Dhabi in January, followed by two meetings in Geneva the following month.
Although a fourth set of negotiations was anticipated for March, the conflict in Iran led to its postponement. As a result, progress toward restarting these discussions has been limited over the past three months.
While the talks were instrumental in bringing the two leaders together for the first time since the war began, both sides left with major questions unanswered.
Russia insists that Ukraine abandon its hopes of joining NATO, agree to a reduced standing military and make major land concessions. Mr. Putin has also ruled out adopting a ceasefire while negotiations take place, arguing that it would give Ukraine time to rebuild.
Ukraine has rejected calls to cede territory to Russia, especially land that it has not completely lost to Russian troops during the course of the war.
