Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing a face‑to‑face meeting and saying Ukraine was ready for a full ceasefire.

The open letter was published on the Ukrainian presidency’s website, according to Al Arabiya. Russia and Ukraine have been holding peace talks since the war began in 2022, but the talks have produced no concrete outcome, Al Jazeera reported.

The Kremlin responded that Zelensky could meet his counterpart in Moscow at any time, Bluesky reported, and the Kremlin also proposed a temporary ceasefire in Kostiantynivka to enable the handover of fallen Ukrainian bodies while suggesting Zelensky travel to Moscow for talks, Kyiv Independent reported. Additionally, the Kremlin chief conceded that Moscow needed to strengthen its air defences amid a spate of Ukrainian attacks, Bangkok Post reported.

Putin said he would meet Zelensky only to finalize an already agreed deal, characterizing prior meeting requests as “calls,” Moscow Times reported. Zelensky said Ukraine would keep fighting for “survival,” Deutsche Welle reported.