Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for direct talks to end the war, saying he does not currently see any reason for a face-to-face meeting.
Zelensky had sent an open letter on Thursday urging Putin to enter direct negotiations. He argued that it would be wrong to simply wait for the war in Ukraine to return to the centre of US attention.
The Ukrainian leader also called for a ceasefire during negotiations, while using a sharp and defiant tone toward the Russian president.
Moscow Says Ceasefire Must Come Later
Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum in St Petersburg on Friday, Putin described Zelensky’s letter as rude and rejected the proposed meeting.
“I don’t see any point for now,” Putin said when asked whether he would accept Zelensky’s offer.
Putin suggested the letter may have been written not to create conditions for a meeting, but to make such talks more difficult.
He repeated Moscow’s position that negotiations should come before any ceasefire. According to Putin, stopping the fighting now would only give Ukraine time to regroup while Russia’s demands remain unresolved.
Zelensky Says Russia Is Choosing War
After Putin’s response, Zelensky accused Russia of once again choosing war over peace.
He said Putin simply does not want to end the conflict and added that many people around the world were likely disappointed by the Russian leader’s answer.
Zelensky has continued to call for direct diplomacy, saying peace can only come through real engagement between Ukraine and Russia.
Putin Says Russia Wants Long-Term Deal
Putin said Russia is not interested in a short-term pause in fighting. He said any agreement must be long-term and must address Moscow’s demands.
He added that experts should first work on possible solutions before any meeting between leaders takes place.
Putin also said the war would only end once Russia achieves the goals it has set for itself.
Russia Repeats Core Demands
Moscow’s long-standing position is that Ukraine must withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, four regions that Russia claims and partly occupies.
Russia also wants Ukraine to abandon its goal of joining NATO.
Kyiv has rejected these conditions. Ukraine says giving up territory would reward aggression and encourage Russia to launch future attacks. Ukrainian officials often point to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, which came eight years before the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky Letter Draws Attention
Zelensky’s letter included direct criticism of Putin, including remarks about his long time in power. He also referred to recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, including one near St Petersburg.
Putin said the letter contained rude comments, making clear that Moscow was not ready to accept the tone or the proposal.
Still, the letter had raised hopes in some countries that direct talks could become possible. US President Donald Trump said it would be positive if the two leaders met.
Ukraine Reports New Sea Strikes
As diplomatic tensions continued, Ukraine said it had struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and in waters near Russian-occupied territory.
Ukraine’s drone commander, Robert Brovdi, said the ships were involved in stealing Ukrainian grain and transporting fuel and military supplies.
Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said five people were killed in attacks on two ships in the Sea of Azov. It did not say who was responsible and noted that the vessels were not owned by Azerbaijan.
Drone Blast Reported in Romania
Ukraine also confirmed that one of its naval drones exploded in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta.
Ukrainian operators said the drone was pushed off course by Russian electronic interference. The incident added to concerns that the war is creating wider security risks around the Black Sea.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians in Ukraine
Inside Ukraine, officials said at least 13 people were killed and 70 others injured in Russian attacks over the past day.
Four people died after a dairy factory near Kyiv was hit. In Kherson, a drone strike on a petrol station killed a 35-year-old woman.
Peace Efforts Remain Stalled
Putin’s rejection of Zelensky’s meeting proposal shows that peace efforts remain stuck. Ukraine wants a ceasefire and direct talks, while Russia says negotiations must happen first and only after its demands are addressed.
With fighting continuing on land, at sea, and through drone attacks, the path toward a political settlement remains uncertain.