WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump gave his endorsement to a pitch by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to see if the two nations can come to a deal in their ongoing war without U.S. involvement.
Zelenskyy published an open letter to Putin on June 4 in which he proposed the two leaders meet to agree about an end to the war, warning that Kyiv stood ready to fight on otherwise. With the United States focused on the conflict in Iran, Zelenskyy said, "It would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention." And the path to peace, he said, had to start at the frontline, "the line from which diplomacy must begin." Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, stood for "a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. This is standard practice."
Zelenskyy's office said the letter had been sent to other countries, including the United States. The Ukrainian president also said the majority of Russians had grown tired of missile and drone attacks, inflation and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace. Asked about the letter in the Oval Office, Trump cast the proposal as a positive development. "I think it would be great if they met. They should. To get it done," Trump said.
Zelenskyy proposed setting a clear date for a meeting and said several countries had "traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace," citing Switzerland, Turkey and the countries of the Arab world. "Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now," Zelenskyy wrote. "Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting... If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence." And continued war, Zelenskyy suggested, could threaten Putin's personal position. "It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes."
In Moscow, the Kremlin said it had seen Zelenskyy's letter and that Putin would be briefed on it. Speaking to a group of senior editors of news agencies at a meeting in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Putin said pieces of Trump's proposals to end the war "may well be the basis for peace agreements." But those require compromises, he said, according to a translation. "And compromise for both sides. For Russia, too. And we generally agreed with these compromises." Trump declined during a televised Oval Office event later in the day to say what concessions Putin agreed to make to bring about an end to the war that began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "It's going to happen. They're going to both make compromises. I suggested those compromises," Trump said. "I've been very strong on the fact that they've got to get that over with," he added.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, has caused tens of thousands of casualties, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and triggered global economic disruptions, including energy price spikes and food shortages. Russia's initial assault on Kyiv in February 2022 was repelled, but the war has since settled into a grueling attritional struggle in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have launched counteroffensives, while Russia has fortified defensive lines and launched relentless missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, aiming to break civilian morale.
Diplomatic efforts have been sporadic. Early peace talks in Belarus and Turkey collapsed amid mutual accusations of bad faith. The Istanbul communiqué in March 2022 nearly yielded a framework but was ultimately scuttled, allegedly due to Western pressure and Russian demands for neutrality and territorial concessions. Since then, both sides have hardened their positions. Ukraine insists on the full restoration of its 1991 borders, including Crimea, while Russia demands recognition of its annexation of four Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) and a neutral, demilitarized status for Ukraine. No direct high-level talks have occurred since the first year of the war.
Trump's endorsement of direct talks marks a shift in the U.S. posture. His administration had previously insisted on a "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" principle, but Trump has also signaled a desire to reduce American involvement in foreign conflicts. The president's proposals, which he hinted at but did not detail, reportedly include a ceasefire along current frontlines, a demilitarized zone, and a gradual lifting of sanctions in exchange for Russian withdrawal from certain areas. Putin's positive reference to these ideas suggests Moscow sees an opportunity to solidify territorial gains while avoiding further isolation.
European allies have reacted cautiously. Some fear that direct talks without robust Western mediation could lead to a bad deal that rewards Russian aggression. Others, particularly in countries like Turkey and Hungary, have long urged dialogue and offer to host. Zelenskyy's mention of Turkey and Switzerland reflects their prior roles as mediators. The Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has also hosted prisoner swaps and diplomatic engagements, positioning themselves as neutral brokers.
Domestically, Zelenskyy faces pressure from both hawks who oppose any territorial concessions and war-weary citizens who desire peace. His letter's reference to Russian war fatigue mirrors Kremlin domestic challenges: rising inflation, labor shortages due to mobilization, and growing dissent among Russian elites and bereaved families. Putin, however, maintains tight control over the narrative and has cracked down on anti-war protests. Whether he is willing to risk a negotiated settlement that might trigger internal instability remains uncertain.
The international context is also shifting. The U.S. focus on Iran, where a major conflict has erupted in the Persian Gulf, has stretched American military resources and diplomatic bandwidth. This has created a vacuum in European security that Zelenskyy fears could leave Ukraine without crucial support. By proposing direct talks, he seeks to keep momentum and prevent the war from becoming a frozen conflict that bleeds Ukraine dry. Trump's backing gives the proposal legitimacy, but the onus is now on Putin to respond concretely.
Analysts note that any negotiated peace will require difficult compromises. Ukraine may have to accept temporary loss of control over some occupied territories in exchange for security guarantees and a path to EU/NATO membership. Russia may need to drop demands for regime change in Kyiv and accept a neutral Ukraine with limited military capacity. The devil lies in the details of ceasefire enforcement, verification, and the sequencing of sanctions relief. Without strong guarantees, both sides are likely to use any pause to rearm and reposition.
Meanwhile, the human cost continues to mount. According to UN estimates, over 10 million people have been displaced internally or as refugees. Infrastructure damage exceeds $150 billion. Ukraine's economy has shrunk by a third, and its agricultural exports, once a global lifeline, have been disrupted. The war has also galvanized NATO, with Finland and Sweden joining, and triggered a historic buildup of European defense spending. A durable peace would require not just a cessation of hostilities but a comprehensive reconstruction plan and a new security architecture for Europe.
As the world watches, the ball is now in Putin's court. His response to Zelenskyy's open letter, expected in the coming days, will determine whether this is a genuine opening or another round of propaganda. Trump's role as a facilitator adds a wildcard, given his unpredictable style and transactional approach. For now, the prospect of a face-to-face meeting between the two presidents offers a glimmer of hope after years of bloodshed. But the path remains treacherous, and failure risks plunging the region back into a protracted conflict with no end in sight.
Source: USA TODAY News