Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call on Thursday for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky wrote on his X account: “We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders. It is necessary to determine the timing for such a format and the range of issues to be addressed.”

Separately, Zelensky said in a statement published today that he had held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stressing that Ukraine and Germany share the view that the war must end as soon as possible in a dignified peace. He said, “The parameters of ending this war will shape the security landscape of Europe for decades to come. The war is happening in Europe, and Ukraine is an integral part of Europe – we are already in negotiations on EU accession. Therefore, Europe must be a participant in the relevant processes.”

Zelensky continued that Ukraine and Germany have coordinated their positions and agreed to remain in constant contact. He noted that security advisors from Ukraine, Europe, and the United States will hold an online meeting to unify their common visions. The Ukrainian leader also revealed that several possible formats for peace talks were discussed at the leader-level, including bilateral and trilateral options. Zelensky said, “Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side. It is time we ended the war.” He thanked all those contributing to the peace efforts.