Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for a direct meeting between the two leaders to put an end to the war. The President of Ukraine said that he does want a diplomatic solution, but if it is not accepted, Kyiv is ready for further struggle for its survival.

It has become clear to Zelenskiy, he said, that the Russian people are becoming tired of the long war. He cited a series of Russian drone and missile attacks, the skyrocketing inflation, and fuel shortages at home as evidence that the Russians are willing to end the war.

He also kind of pointed out the shifting geo-political environment, like it’s moving in a way people don’t always notice. And while Washington and the United States appear increasingly stuck with the conflict in Iran, Zelenskiy said Europe can not afford to just wait until Ukraine comes back up to the top of America’s foreign policy priority list.

Proposed Framework for a Ceasefire and Negotiations

The letter reads, “The way towards peace should start on the front lines. Zelenskiy suggested a ‘full” ceasefire “until the negotiations are completed,” a step he said is the norm in such diplomatic talks. The U.S. has the expertise and tools to help enforce this truce on the suspended front lines of antipathy, he said.

Zelenskiy asked to have a fixed date for a personal meeting in order to move the process forward. He proposed that the summit could be held in a neutral country, such as the Federal Council of Switzerland, Turkey, or countries in the Arab world that are traditional mediators of war and peace.

The proposal also included a pointed warning for Putin’s political fate if the war goes on. Citing history, Zelenskiy said that “when Russia grows tired, change comes,” signaling that a long war may be a direct threat to Putin’s power.

The Kremlin in Moscow accepted the open letter and has scheduled an official briefing of Putin on it.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said the letter is being formally handed over in a regular diplomatic manner. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly supported the initiative and expressed the hope that Russia would finally opt for peace, noting that it contains concrete proposals.