ZELENSKY: ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PATH OUT OF THIS WAR’: Feeling emboldened by Ukraine’s ability to strike deep into Russia with its homegrown drones — including striking St. Petersburg during an annual economic conference — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, both goading him and appealing to him to meet in a neutral country to end the war, now in its fifth year.

“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky wrote, suggesting Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab country as a possible venue. “The choice is yours now. Enough of war.”