Putin rejects Zelenskyy’s offer to meet and reaffirms Ukraine war aims | Russia

Vladimir Putin rejected Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer for a face-to-face meeting and instead insisted that Russia achieve its war goals in Ukraine, including seizing the entire eastern Donbas region.

Speaking at the Saint Petersburg economic forum, the Russian president described his Ukrainian counterpart’s open letter containing the offer as rude. He refused to use Zelenskyy’s name and referred to him only as the author of the book. Asked whether they could meet to discuss ending the conflict, Putin replied, “I don’t see any point so far.”

Zelenskyy’s letter, published on Thursday, suggested holding a meeting in a third country such as Switzerland or Türkiye. He said diplomacy must start from the front line now and that Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire while negotiations continue.

The letter also mentioned Russia’s recent military disruptions and the increasing fuel shortage in Crimea due to Ukraine’s attacks on important supply routes. Hours before the forum opened on Wednesday, Ukrainian drones struck St Petersburg’s oil terminal, sending black smoke into the sky.

But Putin shrugged off the shameful attacks on his hometown and said Moscow’s territorial claims had not changed. He said Russia controls the entire Luhansk region (Kiev denies this claim) and more than 85 percent of the Donetsk region. He reiterated his demand that Ukraine give up the entire Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts.

Calling for “long-term peace”, he asked: “What is this letter about? Is it a way to create the environment for a personal meeting? Or is it intended to ensure that a personal meeting does not take place? I think it is the latter.” Addressing the Russian troops, he said: “Keep working, brothers.”

Zelenskyy said Putin’s rejection showed the Kremlin did not want to end the conflict. In his video speech at night, he said, “Unfortunately, the Russian side is choosing war once again. Everyone has heard the answer. It is a weak answer.” “I think this response will disappoint many people around the world.”

Putin acknowledged that Russia needed to strengthen its air defenses but downplayed Ukraine’s increasingly successful campaign against strategic targets. Ukrainian drones hit the occupied southern ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk and five Russian cargo ships in the Sea of ​​Azov overnight on Thursday.

Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, head of Ukraine’s unmanned system forces, said the ships were carrying military fuel and stealing Ukrainian grain. Russia said five sailors from Azerbaijan were killed. Video taken from their ship shows extensive damage and its bridge is ruined.

Zelenskyy’s latest peace proposal has won the approval of key allies, including Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London to give new impetus to attempts to end the war.

Observers suggested that the letter was written with Ukraine’s allies in mind and with the aim of needling Putin. This message contained a sharp reminder to the Russian President and his rulers about the lessons to be learned from history. The report stated, “Change will come when Russia gets tired.”

The forum in St Petersburg was attended by a US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr, chairman of the country’s fine arts commission. Cook, who is responsible for Trump’s White House ballroom project, conveyed the US president’s greetings to Putin.

He said from the front row: “President Vladimir Putin, it’s great to see you… I love this city and I think you know it. You have a beautiful hometown. A very nice hello to you from your friend President Trump.”

Speaking at the plenary session, Putin shrugged off claims that the Russian economy was collapsing due to the high costs of the war. The Kremlin’s attack has put the country’s finances under huge pressure, with rising prices, tax hikes and the highest borrowing costs in two decades taking a toll on many citizens.

The economy shrank by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026 as the pressure of war and Western sanctions increased; This was the first quarterly decline in three years. “Of course, we hear criticism from all sides that everything is collapsing,” Putin said.

“We have fallen to the level that Eurozone countries have been experiencing for the last few years.” Saying that Russia is pursuing a sovereign economy, Trump added, referring to American writer Mark Twain: “The news about my death is greatly exaggerated.”

Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure in recent months; It targeted oil depots, refineries and export facilities and threatened to endanger Moscow’s most important revenue stream. Putin said that Western countries were shaking confidence in their own currencies by freezing Russian assets abroad.

“Sanctions and blocks on Russia’s sovereign reserves have irreversibly affected the standing of international currencies, the dollar and the euro,” he said. “Just like Russia, any country could lose its legitimate assets in dollars or euros and access to Western financial and payment systems.”