Zelensky in open letter to Putin proposes face-to-face meeting and 'full ceasefire'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter to the Russian leader Thursday, saying he was also ready for a "full ceasefire".

"Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting," Zelensky said in the letter. "Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations," he added.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled for months, as US-led negotiations remain effectively frozen due to the Iran war.

Previous rounds of negotiation between the two sides in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Geneva failed to yield a breakthrough on the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement.

"Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting," Zelensky said in the letter, which was published on the Ukrainian presidency's website.

"Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations," he added.

Zelensky also proposed an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war, saying this could be a "good prologue to ending the war".

There was no immediate comment from Putin, who was wrapping up a meeting with foreign journalists in Saint Petersburg when the letter was published.

Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin, saying only face-to-face talks will yield an agreement on territory.

Putin has suggested he would only meet Zelensky once a peace agreement was ready.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)