The letter marks one of the few times Zelensky has appealed directly to Putin since Russia’s 2022 special military operation began.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled for months, as US-led negotiations remain effectively frozen due to the Iran war.
Previous rounds of negotiations between the two sides in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Geneva failed to yield a breakthrough on the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement.
“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky said in the letter, which was published on the Ukrainian presidency’s website.
“Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations,” he added.
Zelensky also proposed an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war, saying this could be a “good prologue to ending the war.”
There was no immediate comment from Putin, who was wrapping up a meeting with foreign journalists in Saint Petersburg when the letter was published.
Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin, saying only face-to-face talks will yield an agreement on territory.
Putin has previously suggested he would only meet Zelensky once a peace agreement was ready.
But Russian state media quoted the Kremlin as saying that Zelensky was welcome to meet Putin in Moscow ‘any time.’ (AFP)
