Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissing the latter’s request for face-to-face talks as “rude.” Putin criticized the tone of Zelensky’s personal letter during a speech at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, questioning the sincerity of the offer for direct engagement to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Zelensky, in his letter to Putin, called for an end to the war and hinted at possible unrest within Russia. He highlighted the casualties among Russian soldiers in May and expressed concern for Ukrainians affected by the conflict. Zelensky proposed potential meeting locations in Switzerland, Turkey, or the Arab world, emphasizing the role of leaders in resolving critical issues.

In response, the Russian state-owned TASS news agency reported Putin’s condemnation of Zelensky’s proposal, citing recent Ukrainian actions, including a drone strike on a college dorm in the Russian-occupied city of Starobilsk. Putin accused Ukraine of committing “horrific crimes,” such as the killing of children, and expressed disappointment over the contradictory nature of seeking a meeting while engaging in such actions.

The escalating tensions between the two leaders have raised doubts about the possibility of a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, with Putin indicating his reluctance to engage further with Zelensky following the recent developments.