Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
According to Zelenskyy, Putin has several plans in motion — and not just in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sent a stark message straight to the Kremlin.
In an open letter published on the President’s Office website on 4 June, Zelenskyy urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to halt his military ambitions before the conflict stretches even further.
The letter arrives as the full-scale war enters its fifth year. Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian intelligence points to a long-term strategy from Moscow, warning that the Kremlin is preparing for an extended fight.
“We have seen intelligence reports showing that you are now considering plans to continue the war into 2027 and 2028. We also know that you hope ballistic missiles will achieve for you what everything else has failed to achieve,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The Ukrainian President goes on to list that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Putin is planning on drawing Belarus into the conflict, that Putin is planning something around the Moldovan breakaway state Transnistria, and that the Russian propaganda machine is basically threatening every country sharing a border with Russia.
“Do you really want to go through all of this?” Zelenskyy asks.
Shifting the pressure
The Ukrainian leader did not hold back in highlighting Russia’s vulnerabilities. He noted that the conflict is increasingly affecting ordinary Russian citizens through fuel shortages, rising costs, and the looming threat of a second wave of military mobilisation.
According to the letter, the war has drastically changed how the two nations interact. Over Putin’s 26 years in power, discussions have shifted from trade to a grim tally of strikes and casualties.
Ukraine is also demonstrating its military reach. Zelenskyy reminded Putin of a recent drone strike on a major Russian city, noting that the range of Ukrainian technology is increasing.
“Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometres,” the letter stated.
A surprise offer
Despite the harsh words, the message carried an offer. Zelenskyy wants to talk.
He proposed setting a clear date for a direct meeting, suggesting neutral locations such as Switzerland, Türkiye, or the Arab world.
Whether Moscow will accept the invitation remains unclear, but the letter places the ball firmly in Putin’s court.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin had seen the letter but said that “if Zelenskyy wants to meet Putin, he can come to Moscow”.
You can read Zelenskyy’s full letter in English on the website of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.
