Zelenskyy Sends Open Letter to Putin: 'Enough War. The Choice is Yours.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has penned an open letter to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, calling for an immediate meeting and bilateral talks to end the conflict in Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that while many in Ukraine once viewed Putin positively upon his rise to power over 26 years ago, that perception has drastically changed.

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When you took power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine looked at you positively. That's in the past now.

"Today, the vast majority of Ukrainians look positively at our long-range drones visiting the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg and flying over 1,000 kilometers," Zelenskyy wrote, emphasizing that such distances are not the limit of Ukraine's capabilities. He asserted that Putin's 26 years in power have fundamentally altered Ukraine-Russia relations, shifting the focus from trade to attacks and losses, with nearly half of Putin's tenure marked by war against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy characterized the war as Putin's "personal decision" without a "real reason," a conflict history will remember. He countered the notion that the war benefits Putin, noting that while Putin values his own life, the reality is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for Russians, who face mounting negative consequences. These include disapproval of Ukrainian drones and missiles, fuel shortages, rising prices, constant restrictions, and the prospect of further mobilization.

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Today, the vast majority of Ukrainians look positively at our long-range drones visiting the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg and flying over 1,000 kilometers.

The Ukrainian president argued that Putin's resources to buy loyalty are diminishing, and he will not have enough money or political capital to sustain it as he has for the past 26 years. Zelenskyy cited a recent report of over 30,000 Russian soldiers killed or severely wounded in May alone, maintaining this monthly level. He noted that 63% of Russian battlefield losses are fatalities, a ratio unsustainable for any army in the 21st century, predicting this fatality rate will continue to rise.

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Whatever you say about NATO, geopolitics, or the Russian language, this war is your personal decision – a war without a real reason. That's how history will remember it.

While acknowledging Ukraine's own losses, Zelenskyy stressed that even a 1:5 or 1:6 ratio of Ukrainian to Russian casualties is significant for Ukraine. He concluded by stating that the choice to end the war rests with Putin.

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The fact is that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia.