Overview
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj published an open letter offering a personal meeting in a neutral third country and a temporary ceasefire to negotiate key issues between the two leaders.
- Putin publicly rejected that offer at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, criticizing the open letter's form and saying he saw no sense in a meeting without prior concrete agreements.
- At the same forum Putin reiterated Moscow's precondition that Russia must secure control of Donbass before any settlement and acknowledged that Russia's economic growth has slowed under war pressure and sanctions.
- Days earlier Ukraine carried out long‑range drone strikes on energy and military targets near St. Petersburg, and both sides reported a reciprocal prisoner exchange of 185 soldiers each, showing limited channels of accommodation despite stalled high‑level talks.
- European leaders welcomed Selenskyj's initiative and will meet with him in London to coordinate pressure and support, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he would welcome a Putin–Selenskyj meeting although formal U.S. mediation remains constrained by other priorities.