Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to meet in person for negotiations, issuing a direct challenge as the war enters a pivotal stage and diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

The open letter marked the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 that Zelenskyy has publicly addressed Putin directly. In the message, he sharply criticized the Russian leader’s more than two decades in power and argued that the conflict can only be resolved through leadership-level engagement.

Zelenskyy also noted changing international dynamics, saying Ukraine cannot afford to sit back and wait for Washington to refocus on the conflict while the Trump administration remains heavily engaged with developments involving Iran.

“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote.

President Donald Trump welcomed the idea of a direct meeting between the two leaders and expressed hope that such talks could help bring the war to a close.

“It would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy met, Trump said. “They should get it done.”

When reporters asked Trump what concessions he had encouraged Putin to make in pursuit of peace, the president declined to elaborate on specifics but emphasized that compromise would be required from both sides.

“They’re going to both make compromises,” he said. “I suggested those compromises.”

Zelenskyy’s proposal comes as Ukraine seeks to capitalize on recent military gains achieved through enhanced long-range strike capabilities, which have complicated Russian operations. At the same time, Russia has intensified aerial attacks across Ukraine, using missiles and drones in an effort to exploit Kyiv’s ongoing vulnerabilities and shortages.

The Ukrainian president suggested that any negotiations take place in a neutral location rather than in either country’s capital. He named Switzerland, Turkey, and several Arab nations as potential venues.

“It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be,” he wrote. “I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting.”

Zelenskyy further claimed that Ukrainian intelligence assessments indicate Russia may be preparing for a prolonged conflict extending through 2027 and 2028, with an increasing reliance on ballistic missile attacks to compensate for shortcomings on the battlefield.

He also accused the Kremlin of attempting to widen instability in the region by drawing Belarus further into the war and fueling tensions surrounding Transnistria, the Russian-backed separatist territory in Moldova.

According to Zelenskyy, the economic and military costs of the war are becoming increasingly difficult for Russia to absorb. He pointed to successful Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, economic pressures, fuel supply problems, inflation, and continued mobilization efforts as evidence of mounting strain.

The Ukrainian leader asserted that Russian forces suffered more than 30,000 killed or seriously wounded troops during May alone. He said Ukraine possesses “video confirmation” of those losses and argued that similar casualty figures have persisted for months.

At the same time, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine continues to endure significant losses of its own, even while maintaining what he described as a more favorable casualty ratio.

As part of his proposal, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would support a complete ceasefire for the duration of negotiations and called for a full prisoner exchange between the two sides as an initial confidence-building measure.

He also urged Russia to return Ukrainian civilians and children who were taken from occupied areas during the course of the war.

“The world has not grown tired of Ukraine, as you long hoped it would. But there is growing fatigue with Russia,” Zelenskyy said.