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Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy projected a face-to-face gathering with Vladimir Putin successful a uncommon unfastened missive to the Russian person Thursday (June 4, 2026), soon aft the Kremlin main had conceded Moscow needed to fortify its aerial defences pursuing a spate of Ukrainian attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed some sides to extremity the struggle and boasted helium could extremity the warfare wrong a time of taking office, said a face-to-face Putin-Zelenskyy gathering would beryllium "great" — but pushed some sides to compromise.
The Kremlin said Mr. Putin had not yet been shown the letter, but that Mr. Zelenskyy could conscionable Mr. Putin successful Moscow "any time" — a connection that the Ukrainian person preemptively ruled retired successful his letter.
"Ukraine proposes ending this warfare done nonstop engagement betwixt america — and you. I americium proposing a meeting," Mr. Zelenskyy said successful the letter.
"I suggest to acceptable a wide day for specified a meeting," helium said.
"Ukraine is acceptable for a afloat ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations," helium added.
Mr. Zelenskyy published the missive a time aft Ukrainian drones deed Saint Petersburg, arsenic Putin's location metropolis hosted a large planetary economical forum this week.
The Ukrainian person has repeatedly called for a gathering with the ex-KGB spy, saying lone face-to-face talks volition output an statement connected territory.
Direct addresses from Mr. Zelenskyy to the Russian person are rare.
'I suggested those compromises'
Mr. Trump, who has faced disapproval for berating Mr. Zelenskyy successful the White House past twelvemonth connected the 1 manus portion inviting Mr. Putin to a acme successful Alaska with the other, said helium was "glad that they're possibly talking astir meeting".
"I deliberation we had a batch to bash with it," helium told reporters successful the Oval Office — the country of his clash with the Ukrainian leader.
"I deliberation it would beryllium large if they met. They should — get it done."
Months of U.S.-led negotiations person failed to bring the sides adjacent to an agreement, with Mr. Trump's attraction mostly absorbed by the Iran warfare that the United States and Israel launched much than 3 months ago.
"They're going to some marque compromises, I suggested those compromises, and you know, we've had a batch to bash with it," Mr. Trump said of Ukraine and Russia, without specifying.
Russia, which invaded successful 2022, has demanded Ukraine propulsion retired of its eastbound Donbas portion — ample parts of which Kyiv's service inactive controls — arsenic a precondition to bid talks.
Speaking to overseas journalists, including from AFP, successful Saint Petersburg conscionable earlier Zelensky's entreaty was published, Mr. Putin had repeated his predominant questioning of the Ukrainian leader's legitimacy.
He said the question of whether Zelensky was Ukraine's morganatic person needed "analysis", aft his archetypal five-year word expired successful 2024.
Martial instrumentality prohibits elections during wartime successful Ukraine, and Mr. Zelenskyy has offered to signifier a ballot oregon referendum connected a last bid woody if a afloat ceasefire is successful place.
Mr. Putin has said helium would lone conscionable Mr. Zelenskyy to finalise an already agreed deal, rejecting calls to conscionable earlier then.
"Zelensky tin travel astatine immoderate clip to Moscow," authorities media quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov arsenic saying aft the missive was published.
'Strengthen' aerial defences
Ukraine has intensified its long-range retaliatory strikes connected Russian vigor and subject targets successful caller months — attacks it calls a just effect to nightly barrages by Russia's army.
"If you bash not personally travel to the decision that it is clip to extremity this war, Ukraine volition proceed warring for its existence," Mr. Zelenskyy said successful the letter.
Mr. Putin connected Thursday hailed his forces' achievements connected the battlefield successful the look of increasing assurance successful Ukraine.
When asked astir whether Russia's violative against Ukraine had go a "strategic disaster", Mr. Putin said that Russia was "advancing on the full enactment of contact".
"We are perfectly acceptable and consenting to scope an statement with Ukraine done peaceful means," helium added.
The gait of Russia's beforehand has slowed since precocious 2025, and caller information shows Ukraine has regained crushed against Russia.
Ukraine recaptured much territory than it mislaid to Russian forces successful May for the 2nd consecutive month, according to an AFP investigation of information from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Mr. Putin besides accepted that Russia needs to amended its aerial defence systems, speaking a time aft Ukrainian drones struck an lipid terminal and naval basal successful Saint Petersburg, conscionable arsenic the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) — dubbed Russian Davos — opened.
"Russia has an aerial defence system. Yes, we indispensable amended it. Yes, we indispensable fortify it. And we volition bash so," the Russian person said.
