Zelenskyy’s Letter Reaches Putin, Raising Hopes for a Summit

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\r\n[Financial News] It has been confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin received and reviewed a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who proposed direct talks to end the war. U.S. President Donald Trump has also publicly backed a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, drawing attention to whether the stalled peace negotiations on Ukraine will begin to move forward.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said in an interview with Izvestia at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on the 5th local time that "a written report was delivered yesterday, and the media coverage was also conveyed to the president."
He explained that Putin had reviewed the contents of Zelenskyy’s letter and that the issue could be discussed at the SPIEF plenary session later that day.
However, when asked about Putin’s specific reaction, he declined to comment, saying, "I do not want to get ahead of myself."
In a letter released the previous day, Zelenskyy proposed a direct meeting with Putin.
He urged face-to-face talks between the two leaders, saying, "Ukraine proposes ending the war through direct dialogue."
The two countries have continued working-level negotiations, but the talks have effectively stalled as they have failed to narrow their differences over territorial issues, security guarantees and sanctions relief.
If a direct summit takes place, it would likely be the first official face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Trump, who has been mediating efforts to end the war, welcomed the proposal for a meeting between the two leaders.
Trump said, "It would be good if they met," adding, "They need to meet and get it done."
Peskov also signaled a willingness to resume talks, saying, "We hope the current deadlock will be resolved and contact will begin."
He explained that Russia was continuing to communicate with the United States through existing channels.
On the confusion surrounding U.S. policy toward Ukraine, he noted that "contradictory statements are coming out of the White House," but added that "President Trump himself sincerely wants to resolve the Ukraine issue."
Meanwhile, in an interview with RIA Novosti, Peskov said the chances of a summit between Putin and Trump were "50% in theory," adding that "it could happen, or it may not happen."
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km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter