Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has directly reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a face-to-face meeting to put an end to the ongoing war. Zelensky also hinted at internal unrest in Russia.
In his letter to Putin, Zelensky expressed the need for “direct engagement” to resolve the conflict and highlighted the challenges faced by Russian forces, with reports indicating significant casualties among them. Despite acknowledging the toll on Russian soldiers, Zelensky emphasized his primary concern for the well-being of Ukrainians amidst the conflict.
Dismissing the idea of meeting in Moscow, Zelensky suggested neutral locations like Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab country for the potential meeting. He stressed the importance of leadership in addressing critical issues and proposed a specific date for the meeting, advocating for the involvement of European and US representatives to ensure security guarantees.
Towards the end of the letter, Zelensky alluded to Putin’s own struggles for survival, implying a potential upheaval in Russia due to the growing unpopularity of the war. He warned Putin that change is inevitable when a nation becomes weary, citing Russian history as evidence.
In response to Zelensky’s letter, Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, reiterated the suggestion for Zelensky to visit Moscow for a meeting with Putin.
