Zelensky needles Putin in letter calling for face-to-face peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter, urging him to end the four-year war. Zelensky timed his appeal to coincide with Putin's attendance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a move aimed at capitalizing on the disquiet among Russian business elites over the conflict's economic toll.

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We can all see that Russians are finally becoming less comfortable with this reality – with the fact that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia. They do not like the fact that there is no end in sight to your war.

"We can all see that Russians are finally becoming less comfortable with this reality – with the fact that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia," Zelensky wrote. He added that the Russian people "do not like the fact that there is no end in sight to your war." Zelensky also accused Putin of regularly postponing deadlines to capture Ukrainian regions, stating, "And you will not capture it this year either."

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And you will not capture it this year either.

Striking a personal note, Zelensky warned Putin about his own future, stating, "(You) will have to fight much harder for your own existence – not Russia’s, but your own. And this is not a threat from me or from Ukraine. It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes." He concluded this thought by saying, "We can work toward that fatigue. You can stop your war."

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(You) will have to fight much harder for your own existence – not Russia’s, but your own. And this is not a threat from me or from Ukraine. It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes.

Ukraine, while not on the verge of winning, has gained an advantage in some front-line areas and increased its ability to strike deep inside Russia. The country recently targeted energy facilities and strategic sites, including St. Petersburg, during the economic forum. Western experts note that Russia's war strategy is unsustainable economically and in terms of human capital. The International Institute for Strategic Studies suggests the Kremlin faces a choice between escalating demands on the economy and society or scaling back its war aims. Even within Russia, voices like German Gref, CEO of Sberbank, have expressed concerns about continued economic growth under current circumstances. Despite these warnings, the Kremlin maintains its maximalist demands, including territorial concessions from Ukraine.

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We can work toward that fatigue. You can stop your war.