Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, June 5, dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for a direct face-to-face meeting, saying he sees no point in holding talks right now to end the war.
Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin poured cold water on the idea just one day after Zelensky published an open letter advocating for a meeting on neutral ground. “I don’t see any point for now,” Putin said, according to the BBC.
Zelensky had written that with the United States focused on Iran, it was time for the two leaders to sit down and negotiate an end to the fighting, which has dragged on for more than four years.
“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us, and you,” he said in the letter.
Putin Rejects Zelensky’s Call for Direct Peace Talks
Putin reportedly rejected the call, describing Zelensky’s note as rude and implying it was not a serious attempt to arrange a meeting.
“Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second,” he said.
The Russian leader said that any pause in the fighting must lead to a lasting deal, not a temporary break that would let Ukraine regroup.
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Moscow’s demands remain unchanged, he indicated, and experts would need to work out details before any summit could take place.
“The only point is for the Ukrainian side to halt the advance of our armed forces. But we need agreements, not for six months, not for three months, but for the long term,” Putin said.
He added that military operations would eventually end once Russia achieves its goals.
Territory remains one of the biggest obstacles, with Russia insisting on full control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly turned down.
So far, Putin has shown no sign of backing away from that position.
Zelensky Fires Back at Putin’s Response
Zelensky quickly hit back, calling Putin’s response “weak.” In a post on X, he said Russia “once again chooses war.”
“I think many around the world were disappointed by that response,” Zelensky wrote. “He does not want to change anything, and he does not want to admit that this war appeals only to him — and to those who are making money off him.”
Zelensky urged the international community to step up economic pressure on Russia.
Recent Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia have added to tensions. Both sides continue to trade blows even as talk of peace surfaces from time to time.
Trump and Congress Push for Progress on Ukraine
In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure on Thursday authorizing more military aid to Ukraine and fresh sanctions on Russia.
The bill drew support from 18 Republicans and one independent, joining most Democrats. Only Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, voted no.
President Trump weighed into the situation Thursday, telling reporters he thought a meeting between Putin and Zelensky would be “great.”
“They should get it done,” Trump said in the Oval Office. He added that he believes both sides will eventually have to make compromises to bring the conflict to a close.
Also Read: 18 Republicans Defy Trump, Help Pass Ukraine Aid and Russia Sanctions Package
Trump had earlier hinted at talks following his summit with Putin in Anchorage, saying those discussions offered a path to a compromise.
The war, now in its fifth year, has devastated parts of Ukraine and strained global economies. Millions have fled their homes, and the death toll continues to rise on both sides.
Peace efforts have repeatedly failed to deliver on key issues, including borders, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO.
Putin has long argued that Russia is open to a settlement but only on its own terms. He repeated on Friday that a real agreement must be comprehensive and lasting.
Short-term truces, in his view, simply allow the other side to rearm and prepare for the next round.
