Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct peace talks in a fresh bid to end the war that has devastated Ukraine for more than four years.
Speaking from a historic monastery in Kyiv that was damaged during an overnight Russian attack, Zelenskiy revealed that he had proposed a face-to-face meeting with Putin during the G7 summit taking place this week in France.
According to Zelenskiy, the proposal had the backing of both the United States and European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. He said the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit would make it an ideal setting for meaningful negotiations.
“We are ready to meet with Putin during the G7 because Trump is there and Macron is there. Europe and America together create a good opportunity for everyone to sit down and talk,” Zelenskiy told reporters.
The Ukrainian leader, however, claimed Russia had once again shown reluctance to engage in direct discussions aimed at ending the conflict.
In a separate message posted on Telegram, Zelenskiy disclosed that he had also discussed the possibility of arranging a meeting between himself and Putin in the United States during a recent phone call with Trump.
He suggested that hosting talks on American soil could increase pressure on the Kremlin to participate, arguing that it would be difficult for Putin to reject an invitation supported by the U.S. president.
A Ukrainian official said Kyiv had informed both Washington and Paris about the proposal and had also delivered the invitation directly to Russian representatives. However, Ukraine has yet to receive a clear response from Moscow.
The latest diplomatic push comes amid continued violence on the battlefield. At least 10 people were reportedly killed following overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Zelenskiy accused Putin of acting “cynically” by launching attacks shortly after Trump had spoken with the Russian leader, describing the timing as a sign that Moscow remains unwilling to pursue peace seriously.
The Ukrainian president also revealed that one of his key priorities at the G7 summit would be securing additional air defence systems to help protect Ukrainian cities from ongoing missile and drone attacks.
Earlier this month, Zelenskiy publicly invited Putin to direct talks in an open letter, arguing that the prolonged conflict was placing increasing pressure on Russia’s economy. Putin later dismissed the suggestion, stating he saw no reason for a personal meeting and insisting that Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes posed little economic threat to Russia.
As world leaders gather for the G7 summit, attention is now focused on whether Moscow will respond to the latest peace proposal or whether the conflict will continue with no end in sight
