In open letter to Putin, Zelenskyy calls for meeting and ceasefire

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a full ceasefire to end the ongoing war. The proposal, made in an open letter, was supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged both sides to compromise. Russia, however, stated Putin would only meet Zelenskyy to finalize an already agreed deal and questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy due to his expired term under wartime martial law. The article also mentions recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Saint Petersburg and Russia's acknowledgment of the need to strengthen its air defenses.