Zelensky's open letter to Putin: "The choice is yours"

Emil Forsberg

Published 2026-06-04 20.51

Volodymyr Zelensky has sent an open letter to Vladimir Putin.

In it, he proposes a meeting.

At the same time, Putin states that he is ready to compromise.

In the letter, Zelensky describes how relations between Ukraine and Russia have changed during Putin's 26 years in power.

He then writes that it is up to Putin to decide the future:

"The choice is yours now. Stop the war. Ukraine offers to end this war. I propose a meeting". 

          

          Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi /AP/TT

At the same time, Putin holds a press conference where he talks about what he would say to Zelensky at the end of the war:

- If we sat down at the negotiating table, I would say to Zelensky: thank God that everything is over.

           

          Photo: Dmitri Lovetsky /AP/TT

Putin also says that Donald Trump asked Russia to compromise in order to reach a peace agreement and that it is ready to do so.

– We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means. More specifically, on the basis that we discussed during our meeting with President Trump in Anchorage, Putin says and continues:

– Russia agrees to the compromises that we discussed in Anchorage. The Ukrainian side must also agree to these compromises. Then the conflict will quickly come to a natural end.

Zelensky believes that the discussions in Anchorage, where Putin demanded that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk and recognize Russian control over occupied territories, cannot be carried out.

Now he wants to have a new meeting somewhere in the world.

“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 host such a meeting.”