Putin rejects Zelenskyy’s offer to meet and reaffirms Ukraine war aims

Vladimir Putin made his comments at the St Petersburg economic forum. Photograph: Anastasia Barashkova/Reuters View image in fullscreen Vladimir Putin made his comments at the St Petersburg economic forum. Photograph: Anastasia Barashkova/Reuters Putin rejects Zelenskyy’s offer to meet and reaffirms Ukraine war aims Russian president describes letter from his Ukrainian counterpart as rude and says he can no point in face-to-face talks Vladimir Putin has rejected an offer from Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold a face-to-face meeting, insisting instead that Russia will achieve its war goals in Ukraine, including seizing all of the eastern Donbas region. Speaking at the Saint Petersburg economic forum, the Russian president described the open letter from his Ukrainian counterpart containing the offer as rude. He refused to use Zelenskyy’s name, referring to him only as its author. Asked if they could meet to discuss an end to the conflict, Putin replied: “So far I see no point.” Zelenskyy’s letter, which was published on Thursday, proposed a meeting in a third country such as Switzerland or Turkey. It said diplomacy should start from the currently frontline and that Ukraine was ready for a full ceasefire while negotiations took place. The letter also alluded to Russia’s recent military setbacks and the growing fuel shortages in Crimea caused by Ukrainian attacks on crucial supply routes. Hours before the forum opened on Wednesday, Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg’s oil terminal , sending black smoke billowing into the sky. Putin, however, shrugged off the embarrassing strikes on his home city and said Moscow’s territorial demands were unchanged. He said Russia controlled all of Luhansk oblast – a claim Kyiv denies – and more than 85 per cent of Donetsk oblast. He repeated his demand that Ukraine also give up all of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. 0:39 Ukraine strikes St Petersburg oil refinery – video Calling for “long-term peace”, he asked: “What is this letter about? Is it a means to create an environment for a personal meeting? Or is it meant to make sure no personal meeting takes place. I think it’s the second.” Speaking to Russian troops, he said: “Keep working brothers”. Zelenskyy said Putin’s rejection showed the Kremlin had no wish to end the conflict. “Unfortunately, the Russian side is once again choosing war. Everyone heard the response. A weak response,” he said in his nightly video address. “I think this response will have disappointed many in the world.” Putin acknowledged Russia needed to strengthen its air defences but played down Ukraine’s increasingly successful campaign against strategic targets. Ukrainian drones hit five Russian cargo ships in the occupied southern ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk, and in the sea of Azov, overnight on Thursday. The head of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, said the vessels had been transporting military fuel and stolen Ukrainian grain. Russia said five sailors from Azerbaija