Desk : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the United States, in what could become a significant diplomatic effort to end more than four years of war between the two countries.
Speaking during the G7 Summit in France, Zelensky said he discussed the possibility of such a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the Ukrainian leader, a meeting hosted in the United States could be more difficult for Putin to decline and might create a new opportunity for peace negotiations.
The proposal comes after Putin reportedly ignored Zelensky’s invitation to meet on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Zelensky has repeatedly called for direct talks with the Russian leader, arguing that meaningful negotiations are necessary to bring an end to the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Reuters reported that Ukraine formally conveyed its invitation to Russia while also informing the United States and France about the proposal. However, Moscow has not yet indicated whether Putin would be willing to participate in such a meeting.
The latest diplomatic initiative comes amid continued fighting on the battlefield. Recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have resulted in civilian casualties and further damage to infrastructure, while Ukraine has continued long-range drone strikes against Russian military and energy targets.
Zelensky warned that if Russia rejects another opportunity for direct dialogue, additional international pressure may be required to push Moscow toward negotiations. Despite several rounds of mediation efforts and U.S.-backed peace initiatives, the two sides remain far apart on key issues, including territory, security guarantees, and the future political status of occupied regions.
Diplomatic observers say a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin would mark the highest-level engagement between the two leaders since the war began and could represent a crucial test of whether a negotiated settlement remains possible.