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Putin dismisses Zelensky's request for face-to-face negotiations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for peace talks, calling the Ukrainian president's recent open letter proposing direct negotiations "rude" and questioning its sincerity.
Zelensky's appeal and Putin's response
In a letter released on Thursday, Zelensky urged Putin to engage in direct discussions, arguing that waiting for external shifts-such as renewed U.S. focus on the conflict-was not a viable strategy. He also proposed a ceasefire, adopting a defiant and at times sarcastic tone toward the Russian leader.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin rejected the invitation, suggesting the letter was more about avoiding a meeting than facilitating one. "I don't see any point for now," he stated, adding that any negotiations must address Russia's long-term demands rather than temporary pauses in fighting.
"Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second."
Vladimir Putin, Russian President
Diverging conditions for peace
Putin reiterated that a ceasefire would only allow Ukraine to regroup, insisting that substantive agreements must precede any halt in hostilities. "The only point is for the Ukrainian side to halt the advance of our armed forces," he said, emphasizing that Moscow seeks lasting solutions, not short-term truces.
Zelensky, in turn, accused Russia of "choosing war again" after Putin's remarks. In a Telegram post, he wrote, "He just doesn't want to end the war. I think that many in the world were disappointed by this answer."
Russia has consistently demanded that Ukraine cede control of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions and abandon its aspirations to join NATO. Kyiv has rejected these terms, warning that concessions would only embolden further aggression, citing Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 as precedent.
Provocative language and international reactions
Zelensky's letter included barbed remarks about Putin's age and leadership, noting that "after 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll." He also referenced recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, including one near St. Petersburg on Thursday, which he described as "paying a visit."
Putin condemned the tone of the letter, while international reactions were mixed. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope for a meeting, stating it "would be great" if the two leaders engaged in dialogue.
Ongoing hostilities and recent attacks
Amid the diplomatic standoff, violence continued on multiple fronts. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes over the past 24 hours had killed 13 people and injured 70 others. A drone attack on a petrol station in Kherson claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman, while a missile strike on a dairy factory outside Kyiv killed four workers.
Ukraine's drone commander, Robert Brovdi, announced that Ukrainian forces had targeted five ships in the Sea of Azov and occupied coastal waters, alleging they were involved in smuggling Ukrainian grain and transporting fuel and military supplies for Russia. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry confirmed that two of the vessels, which it said did not belong to Azerbaijan, were attacked, resulting in five deaths. The ministry did not specify who was responsible.
A Ukrainian drone also malfunctioned and exploded in the Romanian port of Constanta on the Black Sea. Ukrainian operators attributed the incident to Russian electronic interference disrupting its trajectory.
