Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having no genuine interest in resuming peace negotiations, following Moscow's rejection of a proposal for a direct meeting between the two leaders.

In his evening address, Zelensky said Russia's latest response demonstrated a continued preference for military confrontation over diplomacy.

"Unfortunately, the Russian side once again chooses war – everyone heard the response today," Zelensky said, referring to Putin's remarks earlier in the day in which the Russian leader stated that he saw "no point in meeting with Zelensky."

According to Zelensky, Putin remains unwilling to pursue an end to the conflict.

"He simply does not want to end the war," the Ukrainian president said. "I think many around the world were disappointed by that response. He does not want to change anything and he does not want to admit that this war appeals only to him – and to those who are making money off him."

The exchange between the two leaders has cast doubt on the immediate prospects of reviving peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

U.S.-brokered diplomatic efforts have largely stalled in recent months, with international attention increasingly focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Throughout previous rounds of negotiations, Russian officials repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire, arguing that such measures could be used to strengthen Ukraine's position before final settlement talks.

The latest disagreement emerged after Zelensky published an open letter on June 4 proposing a face-to-face meeting with Putin aimed at discussing an end to more than four years of full-scale war.

The letter represented the first direct public appeal by the Ukrainian president to his Russian counterpart since 2022.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum earlier in the day, Putin criticized Kyiv's approach and dismissed the proposal for direct talks.

The Russian president argued that sensitive diplomatic matters should not be conducted through public exchanges, stating that it was inappropriate "to move to a public debate." He also claimed that Zelensky's letter contained "elements of rudeness."

Putin's remarks were widely interpreted as a rejection of the Ukrainian proposal and signaled Moscow's reluctance to engage in a leader-level meeting under current conditions.

Despite the latest setback, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a resolution to the conflict remains within reach.

Speaking on June 5, Trump indicated his support for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine and suggested that progress toward a settlement was being made.

"Well, I don't mind. I mean ... let them deal," Trump said when asked about the possibility of direct negotiations. "I'm the one that got him to this position."

Trump also voiced confidence that diplomatic efforts would eventually succeed.

"I think that's going to get worked out," he said. "We're getting close."

The war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fifth year since the full-scale invasion began, continues to exact a heavy toll on both countries and remains one of the world's most significant geopolitical crises.

While international mediators continue to advocate for renewed negotiations, the latest exchange between Zelensky and Putin underscores the deep divisions that remain between the two sides and highlights the challenges facing any future peace initiative. (ILKHA)