Zelensky seeks Putin meeting to halt war, with ceasefire first

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published an open letter on June 4 urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet directly to negotiate an end to the war, starting with a full ceasefire for the duration of talks. Zelensky proposed setting a clear date and suggested Switzerland, Turkey or Arab states as possible hosts. He argued the United States could monitor a truce along the front line and warned that if Putin refused to move toward peace, Ukraine would keep fighting. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had seen the letter and that Zelensky could come to Moscow if he wanted talks. US President Donald Trump welcomed the prospect of a face-to-face meeting and urged both sides to compromise.