The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed Vladimir Putin in an open letter published on the official website of the Office of the President on June 4, 2026. In the message, Zelensky emphasized that Russian society increasingly supports the war against Ukraine less, and the aggressor country faces growing problems due to hostilities, economic crisis, and social challenges.
This is reported by Finway
Main Points of Zelensky’s Open Letter
Zelensky stressed that Putin has spent half of his 26 years in power waging war against Ukraine, which is his personal choice and has no real justification, regardless of rhetoric about NATO, geopolitics, or the Russian language.
The President of Ukraine noted that the war has become a source of numerous problems for Russia. In particular, the population is dissatisfied with constant drone and missile attacks, fuel shortages, rising prices, restrictions, the threat of a new wave of mobilization, and the lack of prospects for ending the conflict.
According to Zelensky, Russia’s resources are depleting, and Putin lacks the funds and political support to maintain the loyalty of the population. Ukraine, for its part, is making efforts to ensure that the international community takes this into account.
In May 2026 alone, the Russian army lost over 30,000 military personnel killed and wounded. At the same time, the ratio of losses between Ukraine and Russia stands at 1 to 5–6, not in favor of the latter. Zelensky emphasized that Russia will not be able to capture the entire Donetsk region this year.
“Do not be afraid to exit the war – this is the main thing that is needed from you right now,” Zelensky emphasized.
The President of Ukraine also reminded that Ukraine has managed to shift hostilities onto Russian territory, forcing Putin to seek help from North Korea — a first in Russian history. Additionally, for the first time, Russia has become completely dependent on China. Zelensky recalled the Prigozhin rebellion and noted that these events can no longer be hidden.
Proposal for Direct Negotiations and Conditions for Peace
In his letter, Zelensky called for an end to the war “honestly and with dignity” in a format “between us and you.” He proposed a meeting with Putin for direct negotiations, suggesting possible locations such as Switzerland, Turkey, or one of the Arab countries, but not Kyiv or Moscow.
The President of Ukraine emphasized that European countries with influence on the situation, as well as the United States, should be involved in the negotiations, as this is important for shaping a new security architecture in the region.
Zelensky noted that the experience of past negotiations and the Minsk agreements has proven their ineffectiveness, so it is necessary to seek bilateral responses to complex issues without prolonging the process.
The President of Ukraine stressed that the front line should become a starting point for diplomacy, and Ukraine is ready to fully cease fire during the negotiations. He proposed that the United States take on the monitoring of the ceasefire regime, and the exchange of prisoners of war on the principle of “all for all” could be the first step towards ending the war.
Separately, Zelensky highlighted the importance of returning civilians and children taken during the war, as well as the need to determine the future for the next generations of Ukrainians and Russians.
The President of Ukraine warned that if Putin does not come to a decision to end the war, Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence with the support of its partners. At the same time, according to Zelensky, Putin will have to fight for his own existence: the history of Russia shows that public fatigue leads to changes in power.
In the conclusion of the letter, Zelensky emphasized that Russia can stop this war and honored the memory of all those who have died.
Additionally, in a recent interview, Zelensky noted that there is a real possibility of starting peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia by the winter of 2026.