Zelensky urges direct Putin meeting after Trump envoy holds talks in Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to push forward a resolution to the ongoing war. This comes in the wake of recent diplomatic engagement between US President Donald Trump’s special envoy and the Russian leader in Moscow, as reported by France 24.

Zelensky’s comments followed a phone conversation with President Trump, during which the American leader reportedly indicated that a meeting between Zelensky and Putin could take place “very soon.” European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and French and Italian officials, were also part of the call, reflecting broader international support for the effort.

“We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders,” Zelensky wrote in a social media post. “It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed.”

The Ukrainian president revealed he had lined up a series of diplomatic discussions throughout the day, including scheduled calls with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as high-level officials from France and Italy. Zelensky also confirmed that communication would continue at the level of national security advisors, underlining the urgency and scale of the initiative.

“The main thing is for Russia, which started this war, to take real steps to end its aggression,” Zelensky emphasized, in a clear message aimed at Moscow.

Meanwhile, the United States special envoy Steve Witkoff held what were described as “useful and constructive” talks with Putin in the Russian capital. According to Al Jazeera, the meeting lasted around three hours and was timed just days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to agree to a peace framework — or face new economic sanctions.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed that “signals” on the Ukraine conflict were exchanged and said that strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington was also on the agenda. However, he refrained from disclosing details until Witkoff reports back to President Trump.

As tensions remain high and diplomacy intensifies, the potential for a Zelensky-Putin summit — with American and European backing — signals a pivotal moment in the search for peace in Ukraine.