Zelenskyy to Putin in open letter: “Enough of the war”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a sharply worded open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for an immediate end to the war and proposing direct negotiations in a neutral country.

The letter, published on June 4, came shortly after reports of a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike on St. Petersburg. In it, Zelenskyy frames the war as one that Russia has prolonged without justification, writing that “this war is your personal choice,” and urging Putin to “stop your war” and “get out of the war” to allow diplomacy to begin, Caliber.Az reports, citing the full text of the letter, shared on Ukrainian leader’s social media pages.

“When you led Russia more than 26 years ago, many in Ukraine had a positive attitude towards you. That was the case. That is already in the past. Now the absolute majority of Ukrainians perceive positively the fact that our long-range drones visited the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, having overcome a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you well know, this distance is not the limit of our capabilities,” he wrote,, adding that “26 years of your power have completely changed the agenda in relations between Ukraine and Russia” from civilian cooperation to “exclusively hits and losses.”

He further stated that nearly half of Putin’s rule has been marked by war against Ukraine, describing the invasion as a “personal choice” and urging the Russian leader to end what he called a conflict that now brings “more and more negativity to Russia itself.”

Zelenskyy also highlighted what he described as growing strain inside Russia, citing economic pressure, sanctions, and battlefield losses. He claimed Russian society is increasingly affected by fuel shortages, inflation, and fatigue over the prolonged conflict, and warned that Moscow’s ability to sustain the war is weakening.

According to the letter, Ukrainian intelligence estimates cited by Zelenskyy suggest Russia continues to suffer heavy monthly casualties, while Kyiv maintains that its forces are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses.

At the same time, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to pursue diplomacy, stating that Kyiv does not want a “permanent war” and is ready for a ceasefire during negotiations. He also proposed a large-scale prisoner exchange under an “all for all” formula and emphasised the need for international security guarantees involving global partners.

A key element of the letter is Zelenskyy’s renewed invitation for a face-to-face meeting with Putin in a neutral location such as Switzerland, Türkiye, or an Arab state. He stressed that neither leader has a place in the other’s capital for such talks and called for an agreed and public date for negotiations.

“There are countries that traditionally receive leaders to resolve issues of war and peace,” he wrote, adding that Europe and the United States should also be involved in shaping any long-term security framework.

While reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to defend its sovereignty if no agreement is reached, Zelenskyy warned that continued war would deepen Russia’s isolation and internal strain.  He added that the war must end “honestly, with dignity, and guarantee that there will be no new outbreak of war.”

“We need to take serious steps to return civilians and children who were taken out during the war. We need to determine what the future will be for all future generations of Ukrainians and Russians. If you personally do not agree that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence. We will have those who will support us,” he concluded, urging Putin to choose peace.

By Sabina Mammadli