Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that the open letter from President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, will be officially delivered through diplomatic channels.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Content of Zelensky’s letter and Kyiv’s position
Zelensky, in his open letter, proposed specific steps to end the war and called for a personal meeting with Putin. According to Sybiha, this initiative is a serious proposal aimed at finding a real way out of the conflict. Kyiv expects a substantive response from the Russian side.
“This open letter is a serious and substantive proposal for ending the war. Directly from the President of Ukraine to the President of the Russian Federation. With clear, feasible steps and an invitation for a personal meeting”
Reactions from Moscow and further steps
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin will be informed about Zelensky’s letter. He also noted that if Zelensky wishes to meet, the Ukrainian president can come to Moscow. However, in Kyiv, this proposal is seen as an attempt to prolong the negotiation process, and they insist on a meeting in a neutral territory, particularly in countries like Switzerland or Turkey.
Zelensky proposed to set a clear date for such a meeting, while the Kremlin had previously insisted on holding negotiations in Moscow — a possibility that Ukraine rejects.
At the same time, Russia is demanding a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region as a condition for a ceasefire. Russian representatives mention the “spirit of Anchorage,” referring to agreements they believe were reached during the meeting of the Presidents of the USA and Russia in August of last year. From the Kremlin, statements are made that these approaches should form the basis for a peaceful settlement.
However, on May 12, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly denied the existence of any agreements with Putin that would involve transferring all of Donbas under Russian control. The Ukrainian authorities categorically refuse to comply with this demand.