NBC News' Keir Simmons breaks down the main takeaways from Russian President Vladimir Putin's address at a flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg, including his response to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's

Putin rebuffed Zelenskyy’s request on Friday. Speaking at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he said: “I see no sense” in a meeting. Putin said he skimmed over the letter, noting that it came across as rude.

As Putin dismissed Zelenskyy’s proposal for direct talks, the Ukrainian president accused Moscow of refusing to pursue peace, saying “the Russian side is choosing war again” and that the Kremlin leader “simply doesn’t want to end the war.

Has peace become closer after the letter to the Kremlin? Yesterday’s letter from Zelenskyy to Putin is the most high-profile public move from the Presidential Office in recent weeks. And the story keeps developing.

Vladimir Putin has been briefed on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's letter ahead of his appearance at his flagship economic forum today. It comes as a Russian port has been reportedly been hit by a drone, killing five.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his home city of Saint Petersburg.