Zelensky asks Putin in a letter for a face-to-face meeting to reach an agreement to end the war

Rules out the idea of ​​traveling to Moscow and proposes a neutral country to host direct talks

MADRID, 4 (EUROPA PRESS)

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has sent an open letter to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in which he proposes organizing a face-to-face meeting to reach a peace agreement to end the war, with the current “front line” as the starting point of diplomacy.

“There are countries that have traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace. Switzerland, Turkey, the countries of the Arab world, many are capable and willing to organize a meeting of this type (…) I propose setting a clear date for such a meeting,” indicated the Ukrainian president.

Thus, he has ruled out the idea that he will travel to the Russian capital, Moscow, or that the opposite could happen with the Russian president. “After 26 years, there is nothing a Ukrainian leader can do in his capital, just as there is nothing a Russian leader can do in kyiv,” he said.

Zelensky has pointed out that “other participants could join the bilateral path” in a place that has yet to be determined, although he has made it clear that “Europe should be part of this” peace process, since European countries “really have the ability to influence the situation.”

“Since the war is taking place in Europe, and since Ukraine needs security guarantees, while you also seek security guarantees for yourself, it would be logical to involve those who can really serve as guarantors,” he defended in the letter addressed to his Russian counterpart.

Likewise, he has put the participation of the United States on the table, alluding that it could “help shape a new security architecture for our part of the world.” “The front line today is the line from which diplomacy must begin,” he stated.

Zelensky has expressed that kyiv “is ready for a complete ceasefire during the negotiations.” “This is common practice, and current events around Iran only reinforce that point. An attempt to establish real silence is the best way to start talking to each other,” he argued.

In this sense, he has called on Putin to “personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war” or, otherwise, kyiv “will continue fighting for its existence.” “We will have those who support us, but you will also have to fight much harder for your own existence; not Russia’s, but yours. And this is not a threat from me or Ukraine. It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia gets tired, change comes,” he said.

On the other hand, Zelensky has stated that “Ukraine has preserved its independence” and has assured that “it will preserve it despite all predictions to the contrary.” “You did not expect large-scale resistance from Ukraine, and you did not foresee that things would go this far. However, here we all are, in the fifth year of this large-scale war. Do not be afraid to get out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now,” he explained in the letter.

“We have brought the war to your territory, and you would not have been able to face it without the help of North Korea. You are the first ruler in Russia to turn to Pyongyang for help. And today you are totally dependent on China, also for the first time in Russian history,” he alleged.

“WAR OF PERSONAL CHOICE”

Likewise, Zelensky has questioned Putin’s intentions to generate “internal unrest” within Ukraine and to continue with his “war of personal choice”, alluding to the fact that his own military formations were “the ones that organized a mutiny” in June 2023 when the Wagner paramilitary group rebelled against the Russian authorities.

“You have spent almost half of your 26 years in power in Russia fighting a war against Ukraine. Whatever you say about NATO, geopolitics or the Russian language, this war is of personal choice: a war without a real cause. That is how history will remember it,” the president argued.

Zelensky has further stated that Russian citizens “are becoming less comfortable” with the reality of war and with the fact that the conflict “is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia.” “They don’t like our drones and missiles; or they like gasoline shortages and constantly rising prices; they don’t like constant restrictions,” he said.

Likewise, he pointed out that “the example” of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán “demonstrates how those who choose to help Russia” fall “from grace.” “The world has not tired of Ukraine, as you had hoped, but there is a growing tiredness towards Russia, even among those (…) who help you evade sanctions and keep your economy afloat. It is impossible not to notice it. After 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll and over time, the tiredness towards you will only increase,” he stressed.

Zelensky, in his long letter, has also questioned Intelligence information that suggests that Moscow would be considering prolonging the war against Ukraine until 2027 or 2028 and even “involving Belarus even more” in the conflict.

“We see that you are trying to orchestrate something around Transnistria. Its propagandists threaten, in one way or another, all the countries neighboring Russia. Do you really want to go through all this? The decision is yours. Enough war. Ukraine proposes to end this war,” he indicated.