Key facts
- Putin stated he sees no reason to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
- Zelensky published an open letter proposing face-to-face talks to end the war.
- Putin described Zelensky's letter as insincere and containing 'rude remarks.'
- Putin suggested experts should develop solutions before any meeting.
- Putin noted Ukrainian advances on the battlefield would need to halt.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that he currently sees no reason to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This comes after Zelensky published an open letter proposing face-to-face talks to end the war, which is now in its fifth year. Putin described the letter as insincere and containing 'rude remarks,' suggesting that experts should work on solutions before any meeting could take place. He also noted that Ukrainian advances on the battlefield would need to halt. The conflict has become a war of attrition, with Russia controlling about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Both sides accuse each other of refusing to compromise. The war has seen continued Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia, including on energy infrastructure, and Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Putin also mentioned that former U.S. President Donald Trump's peace proposals could end the fighting if Kyiv was ready to compromise. Putin also revealed he sent an informal envoy to Ukraine last month at Kyiv's request, but this was followed by a bombing of a college dormitory in Lugansk that killed 21 people, which the Kremlin called a 'terrorist act.'