Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga reported that Ukraine is officially transmitting through diplomatic channels a letter from President Volodymyr Zelensky to Russian President Vladimir Putin with proposals for ending the war.
According to the Foreign Minister, the document contains a "serious and substantial proposal" for achieving peace, as well as specific and undertaken steps to cease hostilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that they expect a substantive response to the Ukrainian proposal. According to Sibiga, it is time to end the war and choose the path to peace.
"We expect a substantive response to this proposal. It is time to end this war. It is time to choose peace," the minister emphasized.
What Zelensky Wrote
Zelensky published an open letter to Putin, proposing to initiate a direct negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia and to hold a personal meeting to discuss the end of the war.
He stated that Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire for the entire duration of the negotiations, and that the United States could ensure compliance with the truce. Kyiv also proposes a prisoner exchange based on the formula "all for all," the return of civilians and children taken during the war, and then a discussion of long-term security guarantees.
In the letter, Zelensky suggested setting a specific date for the meeting and noted that it could take place in Switzerland, Turkey, or one of the Arab countries. According to him, the United States and European states could later join the bilateral format as potential guarantors of future agreements.
A significant portion of the letter is dedicated to criticizing Russian policy. Zelensky also stated that Kyiv has information about Moscow's plans to continue the war in 2027-2028.
In conclusion, Zelensky warned that if the negotiation path is rejected, Ukraine will continue to fight, stating that "the front line now is the line from which diplomacy should begin."
Putin: 'Thank God!'
Putin said what he would tell Zelensky if he met with him to sign a peace agreement. "Thank God this is all over," the Russian president suggested.
He also indicated that he might sign an agreement with Zelensky, despite questions regarding his legitimacy from the Russian side.
According to him, Moscow wants to sign a peace agreement with Ukraine "with individuals who are undoubtedly legitimate in every sense of the word." "There are many options - the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, perhaps Zelensky himself. If there is a desire, we will find a way to formalize it," Putin said.
At the same time, he reiterated that Zelensky's powers as president "expired" in May 2024. "Will there be elections or not? No one is talking about that now," Putin added. According to him, "whether Zelensky is a legitimate representative of Ukraine is a question for legal analysis."
He also suggested that the ruling circles of Ukraine "do not want the war to end," as they risk losing power.
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