Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the war and agree to face-to-face negotiations for lasting peace.
The open letter addressed to Putin, released as the war grinds through another year, reads less like a diplomatic appeal and more like a direct challenge to the Kremlin leader. Zelenskyy accused Putin of turning Ukraine-Russia relations into a permanent battlefield, mocked Russia’s growing dependence on foreign partners and warned that the Russian leader may ultimately face the same fate as many rulers who stayed in power too long.
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“The choice is yours now. Enough of war. Ukraine proposes to end this war,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The appeal comes shortly after Putin said he would not rule out signing a peace agreement with Zelenskyy if negotiations produced a settlement.
THIS IS YOUR WAR, SAYS ZELENSKYY
Zelenskyy used the letter to place personal responsibility for the conflict on Putin, blaming that nearly three decades of his rule had change relations between the two countries from cooperation to war.
“When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively,” Zelenskyy wrote. “That is how it was. But that is now in the past.”
The Ukrainian President said discussions between the two nations are now dominated by “strikes and losses” instead of trade and economic ties.
“Whatever you may say about NATO, geopolitics, or the Russian language, this war is your personal choice — a war without a real cause. That is how history will remember it.”
The letter also contained a jab at Russian security vulnerabilities. Referring to recent Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, Zelenskyy wrote that Ukrainians had welcomed reports that long-range drones had reached areas linked to events in St. Petersburg.
“As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities,” he wrote.
The attack appeared planned as it occurred days before Putin hosted the International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. This year marks the event’s 10th anniversary.
‘RUSSIANS ARE GETTING TIRED’
One of the strongest themes in the letter was Zelenskyy’s argument that the war is becoming harder for ordinary Russians to accept. He claimed that Russians are growing frustrated with rising prices, fuel shortages, restrictions and the possibility of another mobilisation campaign.
“They do not like our drones and missiles. They do not like gasoline shortages and constantly rising prices. They do not like constant restrictions,” he wrote.
Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s financial and political resources are gradually shrinking and warned that the Kremlin would eventually struggle to maintain public support.
“You will not have enough money or political capital to keep buying the loyalty of Russians the way you have for the past 26 years.”
The Ukrainian leader also pointed to Russian battlefield losses, claiming Moscow continues to suffer heavy casualties while failing to achieve key military objectives.
“It also matters that you regularly postpone, every few months, your own deadlines for capturing our regions — especially the Donetsk region. And you will not capture it this year either.”
UKRAINE MOCKS RUSSIA’S DEPENDENCE
The letter repeatedly sought to portray Russia as weaker than it was before the war.
Zelenskyy noted that Moscow had relied on North Korean military assistance and accused Putin of becoming increasingly dependent on China.
“We brought the war onto your territory, and you would not have been able to cope with it without North Korea’s help. You are the first ruler of Russia to turn to Pyongyang for assistance,” he wrote.
“And today you are fully dependent on China — also for the first time in Russia’s history.”
In another pointed passage, Zelenskyy referenced the 2023 mutiny led by the late Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“You hoped for internal unrest in Ukraine. Instead, it was your own military formations that staged a mutiny against you.”
THE OFFER: CEASEFIRE AND DIRECT TALKS
Despite the harsh criticism, Zelenskyy also laid out a framework for ending the war. He proposed direct talks with Putin, saying leaders rather than negotiators should tackle the core issues dividing the two countries.
“I am proposing a meeting.”
He suggested that the talks could be hosted in Switzerland, Turkiye or a country in the Arab world. He also said the United States and European countries should participate as part of a future security framework. Ukraine, he added, is prepared to agree to a full ceasefire during negotiations and supports an all-for-all prisoner exchange.
“Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. Ukraine is ready for an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war,” he added.
The open letter marks one of Zelenskyy’s most direct offers to Putin since the full-scale invasion began. Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum, Putin said US President Donald Trump’s proposals for peace in Ukraine could help end the fighting, but added that Kyiv would need to compromise. According to Putin, there are currently no signs of such compromise, and Russia is therefore prepared to continue fighting until victory.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
