First it was Donald Trump who lost interest in attempting to negotiate a ceasefire and/or peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Then — although they continue to provide material and moral support — the European Coalition of the Willing has faded from the headlines.

And now, the EU has declined to name a special envoy to Russia, at least partially due to Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that Gerhard Schroeder, the former German Chancellor and a close confidant of Putin himself, should be appointed as the envoy. At a meeting of EU foreign miisters in Cyprus on May 27–28, one senior official described it as a “dead topic.” [Rikard Jozwiak, RFE/RL, June 2, 2026.]

So Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stepped forward on June 3rd, in an open letter to Putin urging that they meet at a neutral location to agree to end the war.

The letter pointed out that Washington — i.e., Donald Trump — is “fully focused” on his war with Iran, and that “it would be wrong to simply wait” for a change in that situation. While stressing that the United States and European nations should still be involved in the peace process, Zelensky wrote:

“Ukraine is ready for a full cease-fire for the duration of the negotiations. This is standard practice, and current developments around Iran only reinforce that point.” [Ray Furlong, RFE/RL, June 4, 2026.]

He further proposed a mutual exchange of all prisoners of war.

Noting that Ukraine has been successfully striking Russia’s energy industry, he continued:

“You regularly postpone, every few months, your own deadlines for capturing our regions — especially the Donetsk region. And you will not capture it this year either. But we in Ukraine do not want a permanent war. We know very well that life without war is infinitely better. And we want to achieve that.” [Id.]

*. *. *

Well, that put the ball squarely in Putin’s court, just as he was attending the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum — Russia’s answer to the Western economic meetings at Davos. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media that Zelensky could “come at any time to Moscow” . . . an invitation that somehow reminds one of this:

When Putin was informed about the letter, he called it “rude,” reiterated his position that peace talks should come before any ceasefire, and said:

“I don’t see any point for now. Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second.” [Dan Sales, BBC, June 5, 2026.]

To which Zelensky responded that Putin “was choosing war again. He just doesn’t want to end the war. I think that many in the world were disappointed by this answer.” [Id.]

*. *. *

And what did Donald Trump have to say about all of this while speaking to the press in the Oval Office?

“Im glad that they’re maybe talking about meeting. I think we had a lot to do with it. I think it would be great if they met. They should — get it done.” [Ray Furlong, RFE/RL, June 4, 2026.]

For whatever that’s worth.

*. *. *

So where does that leave Ukraine? Sadly, in the fifth year of a war they did not ask for and do not deserve, with no end in sight.

While people die.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/6/26