STORY: Ukrainians expressed scepticism on Friday (June 5) that an open letter by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Russian President Vladimir Putin would help bring an end to more than four years of war.

Zelenskiy published the letter on Thursday (June 4) in which he proposed a personal meeting with Putin and called for a ceasefire along the frontline as a starting point for negotiations.

In Kyiv’s Independence Square, 50-year-old bank employee Serhii Khymchenko dismissed the effort. “This letter is pointless… Zelenskiy could write 100 letters—it wouldn’t make a difference. Until this invasion stops at the front lines, there will be no negotiations,” he said.

Others voiced cautious hope. Kateryna Leon, a 55-year-old saleswoman, said she wanted peace and hoped the appeal might help end the fighting. “I hope there will be positive outcomes, that the war will finally stop… Our boys, our children, and the civilian population will stop dying,” she said.

In Moscow, the Kremlin said it had seen Zelenskiy's letter and that Putin would be briefed on it.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Ukrainians doubt Zelenskiy’s letter to Putin will help end war

VIDEO SHOWS: UKRAINIANS COMMENTING ON UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY'S OPEN LETTER TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (JUNE 5, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF INDEPENDENCE SQUARE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 50-YEAR-OLD BANK EMPLOYEE, SERHII KHYMCHENKO, SAYING:

“This letter is pointless. How can we stop the war when Russia has such unreasonable demands? The Russian Federation has made it clear that they want all of Ukraine. Zelenskiy could write 100 letters—it wouldn’t make a difference. Until this invasion stops at the front lines, there will be no negotiations. That’s my opinion.”

3. VARIOUS OF MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL

4. PEOPLE WALKING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 55-YEAR-OLD SALESWOMAN, KATERYNA LEON, SAYING:

“I hope for the best; we need peace. It says there that we must end this war on both sides. I hope there will be positive outcomes, that the war will finally stop.”

6. MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 55-YEAR-OLD SALESWOMAN, KATERYNA LEON, SAYING:

“(I hope) Our boys, our children, and the civilian population will stop dying. We are suffering greatly. Kyiv has been under heavy shelling lately. I hope for the best. Hope dies last.”

8. CARS DRIVING ON ROAD

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING, RUNNING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 18-YEAR-OLD VOLUNTEER, MARTIN BOBIAK, SAYING:

“Vladimir Putin has ignored more than one such letter, more than one such appeal. I personally don’t expect any feedback from him, but from a diplomatic standpoint, this is a fairly strong letter, which I think is addressed more to the Western world than to Vladimir Putin. We are simply showing that we are open to negotiations and to peace in general.”

11. ELECTRIC SCOOTER, MAN IN UNIFORM SMOKING WHILE STANDING

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 73-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER, HEORHII FINEN, SAYING:

“A step in the right direction. Just a word, even if it is in a letter, can lead to positive results, perhaps even to peace. If we don’t talk, nothing will happen.”

14. UKRAINIAN FLAG

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) 73-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER, HEORHII FINEN, SAYING:

“How the Russian Federation will react is unknown. Even if they say something positive, it may not come to pass. But we still need to talk. It is the only path to peace.”

16. PEOPLE WALKING

17. UKRAINIAN FLAGS OUTSIDE BUILDING ON EMPTY STREET