There Is ‘No Point’ Meeting Zelensky Over Ending Ukraine War — Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for direct face-to-face peace talks, saying he currently sees “no point” in holding a personal meeting as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year with no sign of a breakthrough.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5, Putin dismissed an open letter published by Zelensky a day earlier in which the Ukrainian leader called for direct negotiations between the two presidents to discuss an end to the conflict. Putin described the letter as insincere and said parts of it were “rude,” arguing that it did not create the conditions necessary for meaningful dialogue.

“I don’t see any point for now,” Putin said when asked whether he would meet Zelensky. The Kremlin leader suggested that negotiations should first be conducted by experts and diplomats before any summit between the two leaders could take place.

Zelensky’s letter marked the first public message he has directed personally to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In the letter, the Ukrainian president proposed a meeting in a neutral country such as Switzerland or Turkey and said Ukraine would be prepared to observe a ceasefire while negotiations were underway. He also proposed an all-for-all prisoner exchange and other confidence-building measures.

The Ukrainian leader argued that both countries have suffered enormous losses and urged Putin to pursue diplomacy rather than continue a costly war. Zelensky also suggested that economic pressures, sanctions and repeated Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure were increasing pressure on Moscow to seek a negotiated settlement.

Putin, however, signaled that Russia’s position remains largely unchanged. During his appearance at the economic forum, he reiterated that Moscow intends to achieve its military objectives and maintained that Russia continues to advance on the battlefield. He also repeated longstanding Russian demands regarding territory controlled by Moscow in eastern and southern Ukraine.

According to Putin, any future agreement must provide long-term security guarantees rather than a temporary halt in fighting. “We need agreements,” he said, adding that experts should first develop concrete solutions before a leaders’ summit could be considered.

The Kremlin’s rejection of the proposal came amid continued military escalation on both sides. Ukrainian drones have recently struck targets deep inside Russia, including fuel facilities and infrastructure in and around St. Petersburg, while Russian forces have continued missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities. The intensifying attacks have further complicated diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Following Putin’s remarks, Zelensky accused the Russian president of avoiding meaningful negotiations and said the response demonstrated that Moscow remains committed to continuing the war. Ukrainian officials argue that Russia’s refusal to engage directly with Kyiv is evidence that the Kremlin is not genuinely interested in peace.

The exchange comes as international efforts to broker a settlement remain stalled. U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives have produced little progress, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of refusing to compromise. Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine continues to demand the restoration of its internationally recognized borders.

Despite rejecting a personal meeting for now, Putin insisted he had never completely ruled out talks with Zelensky. However, his latest comments underscore the significant gap that remains between the two sides on the conditions necessary for negotiations and the broader question of how the war can be brought to an end.

With both countries continuing military operations and neither side showing signs of backing down from its core demands, prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough remain uncertain. Putin’s refusal to meet Zelensky has further highlighted the challenges facing peace efforts as the conflict continues to reshape the security landscape of Europe.