Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 6 rejected a proposal for a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declaring that he sees no point in holding such a meeting at the present time. Speaking at Russia's premier economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin described Zelenskyy's open letter as containing rude and insincere remarks.
“The letter contains some rather rude remarks. Is that a way to facilitate a direct meeting, or a way to avoid one? I think it's the latter,” Putin said. When asked if he would meet the Ukrainian leader, Putin stated: “I see no point in it at this moment.”
In his open letter sent on June 5, Zelenskyy urged President Putin to “not be afraid to step away from this war” and proposed a direct meeting to negotiate an end to the conflict. Responding to Putin's refusal, Zelenskyy said it demonstrates that the Kremlin has no desire to end the war.
“Unfortunately, the Russian side has once again chosen war — let everyone hear that answer. A weak answer,” the Ukrainian president said in a video address on the evening of June 6. “I think this answer will disappoint many people around the world.”
Putin emphasized that negotiations would only become meaningful if Ukraine halts its advance. “The only thing that makes sense now is for the Ukrainian side to stop the offensive of our armed forces. That is it,” he said. “We need agreements. Let experts work, develop some solutions, and then we can meet.”
Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, have largely stalled as Russia insists on keeping occupied territories, while Kyiv refuses territorial concessions. Mediation efforts face further difficulty as the U.S., which had hosted multiple rounds of peace talks, shifts its attention to the conflict in Iran.
In his open letter, Zelenskyy acknowledged the shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities, arguing that waiting for Washington to re-engage would be a mistake. Putin previously offered to host Zelenskyy in Moscow for talks, but the Ukrainian leader flatly refused. Putin stated he is willing to meet in a third country, but only when an agreement is ready to be signed.
The Russian president reiterated his stance that the conflict will end only when Russia achieves its goals. “Military operations will end someday, we believe. Certainly, they will end when we achieve the goals we have set,” he said.
Al Jazeera correspondent Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from St. Petersburg, said: “We understand that Russia will continue fighting on the battlefield and Vladimir Putin is not ready to end this war, at least for now.”
Putin also dismissed allegations that the Russian economy is collapsing under the burden of war costs. The Kremlin's attack on Ukraine has put significant pressure on Russia's finances, with rising prices, increased taxes, and borrowing costs at two-decade highs, severely impacting the population. Russia's economy contracted by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026, its first quarterly decline in three years, due to the pressures of war and Western sanctions.
“Of course, we hear criticism from all sides that everything has collapsed,” Putin said. “We have sunk to the level that eurozone countries have lived with for several years,” he added, noting that Russia is pursuing a “sovereign” economy.
