Ukraine Peace Summit Proposed
Ukrainian President Zelensky Requests Direct Meeting with Putin to End War; Proposes Neutral Ground
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a formal letter to Vladimir Putin on June 4, 2026, proposing a direct face-to-face meeting to end the war. Zelenskyy ruled out both Kyiv and Moscow as venues, calling instead for a neutral third country to host the talks. Switzerland, Turkey, and several Arab states quickly said they were ready to serve as hosts, according to Xinhua.
The proposal comes as the conflict enters its fifth year and as US attention shifts toward its military campaign against Iran. Zelenskyy wrote: "Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting." The Kremlin responded by saying Zelenskyy was welcome in Moscow "any time," a condition Kyiv has flatly rejected, according to CNA.
Zelenskyy Sends Letter as Battlefield Pressure Mounts
Zelenskyy published the open letter on June 4, 2026, just one day after a Ukrainian drone struck St. Petersburg. He argued that waiting for the US to "refocus" on Europe — currently consumed by the war with Iran — would be a mistake. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed the proposal was formally sent to all G7 governments and key neutral mediators, according to El HuffPost.
Ukraine claims it holds the stronger hand right now. Zelenskyy cited more than 30,000 Russian soldiers killed or seriously wounded in May 2026 alone, claiming a loss ratio of 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 in Ukraine's favor, according to Ukrinform. Russia's budget deficit has also ballooned to an estimated $80 billion, with revenues down 40% over the past year.
Putin Signals Openness but Sets Conditions Europe Rejects
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said Russia was open to a deal based on what he called the "Anchorage basis" — a reference to the 28-point framework discussed with Trump in Alaska in August 2025. But Putin refused European involvement: "Europe and its member states are disqualified... because they are directly supporting Ukraine," according to Kyiv Post.
That stance puts the two sides on a collision course. Zelenskyy insists Europe must be a guarantor of any final deal. Putin insists Europe cannot be a mediator. Trump, meanwhile, said: "I think it would be great if they met. They should. Get it done," and confirmed he had already "suggested compromises" to both sides, according to the Associated Press.
Key Obstacle: Ceasefire Before Talks or Talks Without One
The biggest sticking point is whether guns go silent before talks begin. Zelenskyy has offered a full ceasefire for the duration of any negotiations. Putin has said there is "no need to suspend hostilities" to start talking. That gap has not closed, and it remains the main barrier to setting a date for any summit.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War described Zelenskyy's move as a "strategic pivot" aimed at forcing Russia to negotiate while its economy strains. A May 2026 Levada Center poll found that 62% of Russians favor peace talks, while only 27% want to keep fighting, according to the Washington Post. Yet inside Ukraine, a June 1 poll by Radio NV showed 62% of respondents do not really believe negotiations will succeed.
What a Deal Would Include — and What It Would Leave Open
The Anchorage framework reportedly includes freezing front lines, creating free economic zones, and providing security guarantees that stop short of full NATO membership for Ukraine, according to The Kenya Times. Russia currently holds 100% of Luhansk and 85% of Donetsk, though ISW reports Russian forces lost a net 93 square miles between May and June 2026.
Zelenskyy's letter also calls for an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange and the return of thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia — a top priority for Kyiv, according to Polskie Radio. Markets reacted to the letter with cautious optimism: Brent crude futures moved toward $75 per barrel as traders priced in the possibility of a ceasefire.
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