KYIV – Web Desk: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing readiness for a full ceasefire to end the war and proposing a direct meeting between the two leaders, according to international news agencies.
Zelensky wrote that the ongoing war has caused enormous losses to both countries and that the time has come for serious measures to end the conflict. He stated that enough fighting has taken place — now Putin must make the decision. Zelensky made clear that Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire during the negotiation process, but if Russia is not prepared for a ceasefire, Ukrainian forces have the capability to continue fighting in self-defense.
The Ukrainian president also claimed that Russian forces will not be able to fully capture the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine this year, while Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, a Kremlin spokesperson stated that Zelensky’s letter has not yet been presented to President Putin, but Russian leadership is not closing the doors to contacts and potential negotiations with Ukraine. The spokesperson added that if Zelensky wishes, he could come to Moscow to meet with President Putin.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, President Putin claimed that Russia has established full control over Luhansk and could gain control over more areas of Donbas, warning that Ukraine could lose more territory if the war continues.
