Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated Russia is ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means based on the Trump-backed proposals, but only if Kyiv agrees to certain compromises. Speaking to heads of leading global news agencies including PTI, Putin said 'At that meeting, certain questions were put before Russia so that we could agree on certain compromises. Russia agrees to the compromises discussed in Anchorage. It is necessary that Ukraine also agrees to make them' without elaborating on specific terms. Putin emphasized that 'Without doubt, we are ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means -- and based on what we have discussed at the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage'. The Russian leader dismissed the idea that European Union countries could act as mediators, asking 'How can Russia trust people who have been harping about the need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia for years?'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, marking the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. In this landmark communication, Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face negotiations between the two leaders to agree an end to more than four years of war. According to the letter, Zelenskyy wrote that 'Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations' and emphasized that Ukraine does not want permanent war. The appeal came as officials from Europe's three biggest economies — Germany, France and the UK — have been discussing the possibility of holding talks involving Russia and Ukraine. As Zelenskyy noted, 'We have seen intelligence reports showing that you are now considering plans to continue the war into 2027 and 2028' and warned that 'You know that the United States has the capability to monitor a ceasefire along the line where hostilities stop'. The letter was published a day after Ukrainian drones hit Saint Petersburg, Putin's home city hosting a major international economic forum this week.
Putin revealed significant Russian military advances, stating that Russian forces have brought approximately 2,440 square kilometres of territory under their control recently by pushing Ukrainian forces. According to Business Standard, he said 'The offensive is ongoing on a daily basis. At present, the Russian Federation has taken full control of the Luhansk People's Republic. Russia has brought over 85 per cent of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic under its control. We also control 80 percent of the Zaporozhye Region'. Putin emphasized that 'Naturally, under these circumstances, the Ukrainian side would like us to halt the advance. But rather than stopping that, it would be better to bring the war to an end altogether by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage'. The Russian president also questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy, saying the Ukrainian leader's presidential mandate has expired, noting that 'Will they hold elections or not? Whether Zelenskyy is a legitimate representative of Ukraine, this is a question for the lawyers, for a legal analysis'.
In response to Zelenskyy's overture, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media that 'Zelensky can come at any time to Moscow' - a proposal that the Ukrainian leader had preemptively ruled out in his letter. Putin has repeatedly said he is prepared to meet Zelenskyy in Moscow or elsewhere, but only at the final stage of peace negotiations to sign an agreement rather than conduct substantive talks. Putin has also rejected all calls for a truce while peace talks take place, arguing that a ceasefire would be used to rearm Ukraine and improve its defenses. However, speaking at a press briefing, Putin said 'there are many questions' that needed answering for a ceasefire, and added 'there's no need for a suspension of hostilities to begin negotiations'. Zelenskyy rejected the terms Putin and Trump discussed in Alaska, stating 'You can see for yourself that Ukrainian and European issues are not decided in Anchorage' and emphasized that 'We believe Europe should be part of this process – those who truly have the capacity to influence the situation'. In his latest letter, Zelenskyy proposed 'setting a clear date for such a meeting' and suggested 'Switzerland, Türkiye, the countries of the Arab world — many are able and willing to host such a meeting' as neutral venues.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the Ukrainian initiative, telling reporters that he's glad they're talking about meeting and thinks it would be great if they met. According to Business Standard, Trump said it 'would be great' if the two leaders met and added 'They should get it done'. Asked what concessions he had urged Putin to make to end the war, Trump declined to provide details but said both sides would need to compromise. 'They're going to both make compromises,' Trump said. Putin on Thursday hailed his forces achievements on the battlefield in the face of growing confidence in Ukraine, when asked about whether Russia's offensive against Ukraine had become a 'strategic disaster', Putin said that Russia was 'advancing along the entire line of contact' and added 'We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means'. The Kremlin said it had seen the letter and would brief Putin on it, but the Russian leader said there were many questions needing to be answered.
