President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday proposed, in an unusual open letter to Vladimir Putin, a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart, also declaring himself ready for a "total ceasefire". The Kremlin spokesperson said that the Ukrainian head of state could come to Moscow “at any time”. Donald Trump welcomed such a possibility.

Published on: 06/04/2026 - 8:50 p.m. Modified on: 06/04/2026 - 10:24 p.m.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed, Thursday June 4, in an unusual open letter addressed to Vladimir Putin, a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart.

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"Ukraine proposes to end this war through a direct dialogue between us and you. I propose a meeting," Volodymyr Zelensky said in his letter. “Ukraine is ready to respect a total ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations”, in which he believes that Europe and the United States must participate, he added.

“I propose to decide on a clear date for this meeting,” he wrote.

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Based on “today’s front line”

kyiv has repeatedly proposed an extended ceasefire to promote negotiations. But Moscow rejects this idea, arguing that it would allow the Ukrainian army to strengthen.

“Today’s front line is the line from which diplomacy must begin,” also wrote the Ukrainian president, who has rarely addressed his Russian counterpart directly, but has already proposed a meeting.

“Zelensky can visit Moscow at any time,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to state media.

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Vladimir Putin, who was finishing a meeting with the foreign press in St. Petersburg at the time of the letter's publication, did not immediately react. However, he always said he was ready for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky once a peace agreement had been finalized.

“I suggested these compromises”

US President Donald Trump said it would be “great” if these face-to-face discussions took place. "I'm glad they're maybe considering meeting. I think we contributed a lot to that," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I think it would be very good for them to meet. They should do that – sort this out."

Last year, the Republican billionaire urged both sides to end the conflict, but his attention has been largely focused in recent months on the war with Iran.

“They are both going to have to make compromises. I suggested these compromises and, you know, we contributed a lot to them,” added the American president without giving details.

With AFP

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