Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, participated in the 18th Annual Kyiv Security Forum during an unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he addressed the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, calling for an end to the war against Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Speech at the Kyiv Security Forum
During his speech, Prince Harry emphasized that the continuation of hostilities would not bring victory to either side but would only result in further human losses. He highlighted that the cost of the Russian-Ukrainian war is increasing every day, and its continuation leads to greater suffering for both Ukrainians and Russians.
“President Putin, no nation will benefit from the ongoing loss of life that we are witnessing. There is still a moment to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for both Ukrainians and Russians, and to choose a different path. Over the years of this war, with enormous losses and limited gains, it has become increasingly clear that this path does not lead to victory – only to new losses. The cost continues to rise, and no outcome justifies such human sacrifices,” said Prince Harry.
The Duke of Sussex also pointed out that Russia’s war against Ukraine is the result of a long-standing, deliberate policy, rather than an accident or misunderstanding. He specifically noted the violation of the Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave up the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world in exchange for security guarantees and territorial integrity. Prince Harry stressed that the failure to fulfill these commitments has undermined trust in international guarantees and the principles of non-proliferation.
The Role of the USA and Support for Ukraine
In his speech, Prince Harry emphasized the special role of the USA in ensuring global security and strategic stability. He reminded that Washington was among the guarantors of Ukraine’s security when it gave up nuclear weapons, and now is the moment for American leadership to reaffirm its ability to fulfill international commitments.
This is already Prince Harry’s third visit to Ukraine. He first visited Lviv in April 2025, and in September of the same year, he was in Kyiv. Both previous visits were made at the invitation of the Ukrainian government to assist in the rehabilitation of severely injured soldiers. During his current stay in Kyiv, the Duke of Sussex again expressed support for Ukrainian defenders.
Since 2014, the Invictus Games, international competitions for military personnel with disabilities that promote the rehabilitation of the wounded, have been held at the initiative of Prince Harry. The Invictus Games Foundation continues to support Ukrainian military personnel, including providing sports equipment for their recovery.