KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday made a fresh appeal for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying face-to-face dialogue is essential to ending the ongoing war.
His call came just a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had held “highly productive” talks with Putin in Moscow — a diplomatic move that has raised eyebrows in Washington.
Despite Trump’s optimism, U.S. officials maintained a firm stance on Moscow, vowing to continue sanctions on Russia’s trading partners.
Zelensky, in a statement posted on social media, revealed that he had spoken with Trump by phone. During the call — which included several European leaders — Trump reportedly said he might meet with Putin “very soon.”
“We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders,” Zelensky wrote. “It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed.”
The Ukrainian president said he had a packed schedule of diplomatic engagements throughout the day, including planned conversations with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and officials from France and Italy.
“There will also be communication at the level of national security advisors,” he noted, emphasizing the need for coordinated international dialogue.
Zelensky stressed that the responsibility lies with Moscow to make meaningful moves toward peace.
“The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression,” he stated.
The developments come amid renewed speculation about potential diplomatic breakthroughs ahead of the 2027 U.S. presidential election, where Trump is expected to play a major role.
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