"Enough of war": Zelensky issued a direct challenge to Putin and proposed a personal meeting

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed an open letter to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, in which he directly offered him a personal meeting to end the war. The head of state said that Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire during the negotiations, an exchange of prisoners on the formula “all for all” and the return of civilians and children who were taken out during the war.

In the address Zelensky recalled that Putin has been in power in Russia for more than 26 years, and has waged war against Ukraine for almost half of that time. According to the president, it was Putin who made the war his personal choice, not a consequence of NATO, geopolitics or the language issue, as Russian propaganda has explained for years.

Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia increasingly feels the consequences of its own aggression: Ukrainian long-range drones already overcome more than 1000 kilometers, Russians face fuel shortages, rising prices, bans and fear of a new wave of mobilization.

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

Separately, the President of Ukraine provided figures on the losses of the Russian army. According to him, in May alone the Russian Federation lost more than 30 thousand servicemen killed and seriously wounded. Zelensky claims that Ukraine has video confirmation of these losses.

He also noted that in the structure of Russian losses 63% are killed, and 37% are wounded. In the president’s view, for an army in the 21st century such a balance is catastrophic.

“Yesterday I received a report on the losses of your army on the front in Ukraine in May. That is again over 30 thousand killed and seriously wounded Russians.”

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine does not want an endless war, but will continue to fight for its independence if the Kremlin refuses a real end to hostilities. He also said that Russia is no longer able to quickly achieve its goals on the front, in particular regarding the capture of the Donetsk region.

The President of Ukraine also drew attention to Moscow’s international position. According to him, Russia has become dependent on North Korea in the military sphere and on China — economically and politically. Zelensky also mentioned fatigue with Russia even among those who help it circumvent sanctions.

The head of state said that Ukraine sees the Russian Federation preparing to continue the war in 2027 and 2028, as well as the risks of drawing Belarus into the war and using the situation around Transnistria.

After that Zelensky directly offered Putin a personal meeting. According to him, it should not take place in either Moscow or Kyiv. Possible venues could be Switzerland, Turkey or countries of the Arab world.

“Ukraine proposes to end the war in a format between us and you. I propose a meeting.”

Zelensky also said that other participants may join the negotiation process, in particular the U.S. and European countries that can act as security guarantors. At the same time he emphasized that key issues should be decided by the leaders themselves, not by technical groups or endless “shuttle diplomacy”.

The President of Ukraine stressed that the front line should become the point from which diplomacy begins. Ukraine, he said, is ready for a complete ceasefire during the negotiations if Russia also agrees to a real silence.

“Ukraine is ready to cease fire completely – for the time when negotiations will take place.”

Zelensky also stated Ukraine’s readiness to exchange prisoners of war on the principle of “all for all”. Separately, he stressed the need to return Ukrainian civilians and children whom Russia took out during the war.

At the end of the address Zelensky warned Putin that if he does not come to a decision to end the war, Ukraine will continue to fight, and the war itself will increasingly hit not only Russia, but also the personal standing of its leader.

“You can stop your war.”

Earlier we wrote:

• Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) strikes and sanctions block Russia’s oil exports: production fell by 300–400 thousand barrels
• Russia forced to accept security guarantees for Ukraine from the U.S.
• Negotiations to end the war have entered a real hard phase, – Vitaliy Kim
• Donbas in 4 years? Zelensky called Russian occupation plans “idle talk”
• Rockets aimed at children, drones at minibuses: the world still hesitates over sanctions against Russia