Photo: Sergey Dolzhenko / EPA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published an open letter to Vladimir Putin proposing a meeting and an agreement on peace. The message was posted on the website of the president of Ukraine.
Terms. Zelensky proposed holding the meeting in one of the countries that traditionally host Russia and Ukraine — Switzerland, Turkey, or Arab states. According to him, the United States and EU countries could join the talks as potential security guarantors.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. He said the United States could monitor compliance with the ceasefire. The Ukrainian president also called for an all-for-all prisoner exchange and for the return of civilians and children taken to Russia.
Zelensky’s position. Zelensky recalled that yesterday, on the opening day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Ukrainian drones attacked St. Petersburg after covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. He noted that this is “not the limit of [Ukraine’s] capabilities.”
According to Zelensky, the Russian army lost more than 30,000 troops in May, of whom 63% were killed and another 37% were wounded. He estimated the ratio of Ukrainian to Russian losses at “one to five or one to six.” He also said Russian forces would not be able to capture all of Donbas.
The Ukrainian president said that Russia, for the first time in its history, had turned to North Korea for help and had become fully dependent on China. According to Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence determined that the Kremlin is considering plans to continue the war in 2027 and 2028, as well as scenarios involving Belarus and Transnistria.
“Do not be afraid to exit the war — that is the main thing required of you right now. Ukraine is preserving its independence. And it will preserve it. Despite any forecasts,” Zelensky said.
What Putin says. At the same time, Putin spoke at a conference at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he said that the Ukrainian authorities are not ready to make peace “based on the domestic political situation.”
According to him, Zelensky’s powers as president of Ukraine ended in May 2024. He stressed that the issue of elections in Ukraine is important for Russia.
“If we nevertheless someday reach the signing of documents, I think that if there is a desire to end the armed conflict by peaceful means, and Russia has such a desire, we will find those who should sign the relevant document; there only needs to be a desire,” Putin said.