Adedokun Waliyu 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter, expressing his willingness to pursue a full ceasefire as part of efforts to end the war between the two countries.
The letter is one of the few occasions since Russia’s 2022 invasion that Zelensky has appealed directly to Putin.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have remained stalled for several months, while international efforts to revive negotiations have been affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Previous rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, and Geneva failed to produce an agreement, largely due to disagreements over territorial issues and the terms of a post-war settlement.
In his letter, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was proposing to end the war through direct engagement between the two leaders. He formally invited Putin to a meeting and declared that Ukraine was prepared to observe a full ceasefire throughout the negotiation period.
Zelensky also proposed a complete exchange of prisoners of war between both countries, describing such a move as a positive first step toward ending the conflict.
There was no immediate response from Putin after the letter was published.
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly argued that only direct talks between him and Putin can resolve key issues, especially those related to territory. Putin, however, has maintained that a meeting between the two leaders should only take place after a peace agreement has already been prepared.
The proposal comes amid continued efforts by both sides to find a path toward ending a war that has lasted for more than four years and has caused significant military, economic, and humanitarian consequences for both nations.
