Zelensky proposes Switzerland or Turkey as venue;

Russia says come to Moscow — a de facto rejection;

Donald Trump welcomes the move, claims credit;

Skeptics say a deal within six months remains unlikely

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, proposing peace talks. [Reuters]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, proposing peace talks. [Reuters]

With Ukrainian forces performing better than expected on the battlefield and gaining the upper hand in the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing peace talks — a move widely read as a calculated pressure campaign. Skepticism remains strong, however, over whether an actual agreement can be reached.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that Zelensky told Putin he was "ready for a full ceasefire during negotiations" and called for direct talks. In the open letter, Zelensky wrote: "We Ukrainians do not want a permanent war. We know very well that life without war is infinitely better, and we want to achieve that."

Bloomberg said the proposal came as Germany, France and Britain had been discussing the possibility of hosting talks involving both Russia and Ukraine, and that Kyiv had coordinated the move with those countries in advance. The offer is widely read as a way to press Russia, which has recently suffered setbacks on the battlefield. The war has been locked in a stalemate for more than four years, and peace talks had effectively stalled while the United States was engaged in its conflict with Iran. Ukraine's sweeping drone strikes have since inflicted growing losses on Russian forces, and war fatigue and dissent have mounted inside Russia. A close aide to Zelensky told Bloomberg the letter was intended to intensify public pressure on Putin.

Donald Trump, who had largely stepped back from the Russia-Ukraine war, also welcomed the proposal. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he was "glad they're talking about a meeting" and believed the United States had "played a big role in that." He added: "But it would be really great if they met, and they have to make it happen."

Despite Zelensky's proposal and Trump's endorsement, Putin effectively rejected the overture. According to Tass, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that Putin had not yet had a chance to read Zelensky's letter but would be briefed on it later — and added that if Zelensky wanted to meet Putin, he could come to Moscow. Zelensky, for his part, insisted in the letter that any talks must be held in a third country, ruling out Moscow as a venue. He named Switzerland, Turkey and Arab nations as possible options.

Putin has long resisted engaging directly in peace talks. He has previously said he could meet Zelensky at the final stage of a peace process to sign an agreement, but has rejected demands for a ceasefire while negotiations are underway, arguing that a halt in fighting would only help Ukraine rearm and strengthen its defenses.

Analysts are also skeptical that a peace deal can be reached. Alex Kokcharov, a geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics, said the letter raises the chances of talks resuming but that a peace agreement within the next six months remains unlikely. "Zelensky is using Ukraine's improved battlefield position to push for talks, while Putin still seems to view diplomacy as a tool to consolidate Russia's territorial gains and buy time," Kokcharov said. "A more plausible outcome is an intensification of coercive bargaining — with longer-range strikes, Russian air attacks and mounting pressure on both sides' domestic and international support bases."

Putin has also refused to recognize Zelensky as a legitimate negotiating partner. At a meeting with foreign journalists in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin again argued that Zelensky's term ended in 2024 and that he has been illegally extending his hold on power — effectively saying he cannot negotiate with someone he considers illegitimate.

Zelensky's official five-year term did expire in May 2024, but he has postponed a presidential election under martial law declared because of the war. He has been extending his tenure every 90 days with parliamentary approval.


kate01@heraldcorp.com