Vladimir Putin’s response came after Zelenskyy wrote an “open letter” to the Russian President.
Image: X
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, June 5, rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting regarding the four-year-old conflict, saying that he sees “no point” in it.
Putin’s response came after Zelenskyy wrote an “open letter” to the Russian President. Thursday’s letter was the first public message that Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022.
Advertisement
Open Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation
From the President of UkraineAdvertisement
When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.
Now, the overwhelming majority of…— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 4, 2026
While speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin called Zelenskyy’s open letter as “boorish.”
“Is it a way to create conditions for personal meetings and talks, or create an environment which makes any personal meetings impossible?” Putin said during a question-and-answer session at his annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, The Associated Press reported.
“I think it’s the second,” he added.
Putin further revealed that a Russian businessman travelled to Kyiv last month to meet Zelenskyy and heard his offer of a personal meeting.
However, he noted that he sees “no point” in such a meeting, especially after the drone attack by Ukraine on a college dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region on May 22, that killed 21 people and wounded several others.
While responding to Zelenskyy talking about his age and long stay in power, Putin, 73, pointed out several other global leaders who are older. He further stressed that the “main thing isn’t age; the main thing is the ability to work.”
Mocking Zelenskyy over his Oval Office meeting in 2025, Putin thanked US President Donald Trump for “educating” the Ukrainian “before the eyes of the whole world” and teaching him a proper dress code, according to The Associated Press.
He went on to say that “there is still a lot to be done”.
Advertisement
