“I propose a meeting to you” – Zelensky wrote an open letter to Putin on June 4, 2026 – “Ukraine proposes to end the war in a format between us and you”

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky wrote an open letter to the head of the Russian Federation, Putin.

The letter was published on the website of the President’s Office on June 4, 2026 – 21:20. (translation by NAnovosti)

“Open letter

To the President of the Russian Federation

From the President of Ukraine

When you took over Russia more than 26 years ago, many in Ukraine viewed you positively. That was the case. It’s in the past now.

Now the absolute majority of Ukrainians view positively the fact that our long-range drones visited the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1000 kilometers. As you well know, this distance is not the limit of our capabilities.

26 years of your rule have completely changed the agenda in relations between Ukraine and Russia. From discussions of trade and other civil issues, our peoples have moved to the topic of exclusively hits and losses.

Almost half of your 26 years in power in Russia you have spent in a war against Ukraine.

Whatever you say about NATO, geopolitics, and the Russian language, this war is your personal choice – a war without a real reason. This is how history will remember it.

This time could have passed very differently.

We often hear that the war suits you. Of course, not in cases when it comes to the security of your residence in Valdai or the parade in Moscow. Your own life is valuable to you.

But now we all see that this is finally ceasing to suit Russians – the fact that the war is bringing more and more negativity to Russia.

They don’t like our drones and missiles.

They don’t like the fuel shortages and constant price increases.

They don’t like the constant bans.

They don’t like your intention to organize a second wave of mobilization to expand the war in another direction in Ukraine or to direct it against any other countries – Russia’s neighbors.

They don’t like that there is no end in sight to your war.

Yes, you can still force Russians to exist like this.

But your resources are significantly reduced.

You don’t have enough money and political power to continue buying the loyalty of Russians, as you have done for 26 years. We will do everything to ensure the world takes care of this.

As you yourself say, “everything must be counted.”

Yesterday I received a report on the losses of your army on the front in Ukraine in May. It’s again more than 30 thousand killed and seriously wounded Russians. We maintain exactly this figure monthly, and for each of your losses, we have video confirmation – this is not unfounded.

We know that in your losses on the front, 63 percent are killed, and only 37 percent are wounded. In the 20th century, armies cannot afford such a balance. In the future, the share of the killed will increase.

Not that we in Ukraine are concerned about Russians. After everything your war has brought to Ukraine.

But I care about Ukrainians.

We are losing our people, and each of our losses hurts us. And even when the level of Ukrainian losses is one to five or one to six compared to Russian losses, it still matters greatly.

As important as the fact that you already regularly, every few months, postpone the deadlines for capturing our regions, primarily the Donetsk region. You will not capture it this year either.

But we in Ukraine do not want a constant war. We know well that without war is immeasurably better. We want to achieve this.

I am sure that the majority of Russians are ready to give a positive answer to this, and you know it.

Many did not believe that Ukraine would hold out for so long in defense.

You did not believe. And those who advised you did not believe either. It was a mistake.

You did not expect full-scale resistance from Ukraine and did not predict that it would go this far. But we are all here – in the fifth year of full-scale confrontation.

Do not be afraid to get out of the war – this is the main thing that is needed from you now.

Ukraine maintains independence. And will preserve it. Despite any forecasts.

We have united many in the world in defense of Ukraine and against you. We found weapons and finances.

We receive support, you – sanctions. And this will continue until there is justice for Ukraine, which we want and which can be achieved.

We will not give success to those who try to convince you that sanctions against Russia will be significantly weakened and that support for Ukraine will be significantly reduced without significant changes in your position regarding Ukraine. The example of Orban demonstrates what disgrace awaits those who choose to help Russia in the war against us.

Ukraine has gone through harsh winters when you tried to destroy our energy sector. We stood firm, and even in the darkness, the resilience of Ukrainians remained.

We have brought the war to your territory, and you would not have coped with this without the help of North Korea. You are the first ruler of Russia who was forced to seek help in Pyongyang.

And today you are completely dependent on China – also for the first time in Russia’s history.

You expected that Ukrainians would not have the strength to defend themselves, but now our guys are helping to build defense for our partners in the Middle East and the Gulf.

You hoped for internal turmoil in Ukraine, but it is your own military formation that has rebelled against you. June 23 will be another anniversary, and silence will not erase this fact from history.

And now your officials, businessmen, and propagandists look at you with obvious fatigue. The world sees this.

The world is not tired of Ukraine, which you have long counted on. But there is fatigue from Russia even among those in the global world who help you circumvent sanctions and keep the economy afloat.

You cannot fail to notice this. After 26 years, old age has begun to take its toll. The further, the more there will be fatigue from you.

We have seen documents from intelligence that you are now considering plans for war in 2027 and 2028 as well. We also know that you hope that ballistics will do for you what everything else has not. You want to drag Belarus further into the war, and now we are forced to prepare for this. We see that you are playing some game with Transnistria. Your propagandists threaten one way or another all of Russia’s neighbors. Do you really want to go through all this?

The choice is yours now.

Enough of the war.

Ukraine proposes to end this war.

It must be done honestly, with dignity, and guarantee that there will be no new incitement of war.

We see that the United States is focusing all its attention on the issue of Iran, and it is wrong to just wait for their attention to turn to the war in Europe.

Ukraine proposes to end the war in a format between us and you.

I propose a meeting.

Everyone heard how your representatives, smiling, said that I could supposedly come to Moscow. But after such 26 years, there is nothing for a Ukrainian leader to do in your capital, just as there is nothing for a Russian leader to do in Kyiv.

There are countries that traditionally host leaders to resolve issues of war and peace. Switzerland, Turkey, countries of the Arab world – many can and want to host this meeting.

It is the leaders who decide key issues – it has always been so.

I propose to determine the meeting point.

We heard that you were promised some solutions regarding Ukraine and Europe in Alaska. But you see that Ukrainian and European issues are not resolved in Anchorage.

Other designated participants can join the initiated bilateral track.

Since the war continues in Europe, and we in Ukraine need security guarantees, and you want security guarantees for yourself, it seems logical to involve those who can truly act as guarantors.

We believe that Europe’s participation is needed – those who truly have the ability to influence the situation.

We believe that the United States should be involved in the process, and this is what can determine the configuration of a new security architecture in our part of the world.

We have already had the experience of many agreements with Russia and the failed Minsk agreements. Therefore, we need to find primarily our bilateral answers to the questions that exist and not hide from difficult questions behind any formulations, technical groups, or wasting time in shuttle diplomacy.

With your war, you have forever divided Ukraine and Russia.

The front line now is the line from which diplomacy must begin.

Ukraine is ready to cease fire completely – for the time when negotiations will continue. And this is a standard practice, confirmed now by the circumstances around Iran. An attempt to establish real silence is the best start to begin talking to each other. We believe that this will not just be an attempt, but a real cessation of fire if you want it.

You know that the United States can ensure the monitoring of the ceasefire along the stop line.

Ukraine is ready for an exchange of prisoners of war on the principle of all for all, and this can be a good prologue to the end of the war.

Serious steps should be taken to return civilians and children who were taken during the war.

It is necessary to determine what the future will be for all subsequent generations of Ukrainians and Russians.

If you personally do not come to the idea in your thoughts that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence. We will have those who support us.

But you will have to fight much more for your existence – not Russia’s, but your personal one. And this is not a threat from me or Ukraine. These are facts of Russian history that you know well: when Russia gets tired, changes occur.

We can work towards such fatigue.

You can pause your war.

Eternal memory to all whose lives were taken by this war.

Glory to Ukraine!