Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this Thursday, June 4, that he is willing to negotiate peace "on the basis of what was agreed with Trump" in Alaska. His statements coincide with an open letter that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, sent an open letter to Putin, proposing a direct meeting and a "total ceasefire", with the warning that kyiv will continue fighting if Moscow does not give in.

First modification: 06/05/2026 - 00:21Last modification: 06/05/2026 - 01:11

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke this Thursday, June 4, about the war in Ukraine, the peace commitments agreed with US President Donald Trump, and whether or not he will remain in power until 2036.

Putin spoke with senior officials from international news agencies at a meeting held in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

These were the key topics he addressed:

Ukraine, control of Donbass and peace

"One thing does not exclude the other. Controlling the entire Donbass region and reaching an agreement are not contradictory. Why do you suppose they are?" Putin told one of the journalists.

"Russian troops are advancing along the entire front," he said, adding that Russia had taken control of more than 85% of the Donetsk region and controlled 80% of the Zaporizhia region.

"We are fully ready to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means. And specifically, on the basis of what we discussed at the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage (Alaska, August 15, 2025). On that occasion, some issues were raised with Russia so that we could reach certain concessions. Russia accepts the concessions that we discussed in Anchorage. The Ukrainian side must also accept them. And the conflict will quickly come to its natural end."

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On Trump's efforts to end the war

Regarding Trump's role, Putin pointed out that ending this war turned out to be more complicated than the American president initially believed.

"He (Trump) himself talked about how he didn't expect it to be so difficult (to resolve the Ukraine war). From the outside, some things may not seem so complicated, but when you delve deeper into the matter, it turns out that there are quite a few unknown factors and they are important," said the Russian leader.

However, Putin maintained that, for his part, what was agreed in August last year's talks with Trump in Anchorage (Alaska) still stands.

"President Trump's proposals, as I have already said, could well serve as a basis for peace agreements. Therefore, as to whether the administration acted correctly or not: yes, this is a proposal that requires concessions, concessions on both sides. Also for Russia. And in general, we agree with these concessions. We need to convince the Ukrainian side of this, and that is all. In general, I think they can form the basis of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine and end this conflict."

On staying in power until 2036

Asked whether he believed he had the stamina and health to serve for so long, Putin, 73, responded: "Only God knows whether we are healthy enough, for me, for you and for everyone gathered here, to live until tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and even longer to solve some of the tasks ahead of us, to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves."

Putin, in power as president or prime minister since 1999, said the Constitution allows him to run again in 2030 and serve another term until 2036 if he wins.

"Indeed, the Constitution allows me to run in the 2030 elections, but I think it is too early to talk about it. To be honest, it is very early. I am not even thinking about it right now. I say it with complete honesty. I am not even thinking about it," Putin declared.

"The country faces many urgent and large-scale problems. They must be solved without thinking too much, thinking about the future of Russia."

Zelensky invites Putin to negotiate the end of the war in an open letter

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published an open letter addressed to Vladimir Putin in which he proposed that both leaders meet to agree on an end to more than four years of war, with the warning that kyiv will continue fighting if that does not happen.

In the letter — which the presidential office said it also sent to other countries, including the United States — Zelensky claims that most Russians are exhausted by Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, inflation and fuel shortages, and are ready for peace.

The president maintained that, with Washington's attention focused on the conflict with Iran, "it would be a mistake to simply wait for the war in Europe to return to the center of its attention."

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The path to peace, he added, must begin on the front line, "the line from which diplomacy must start." Ukraine, he wrote, advocates "a complete ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. It is standard practice."

Zelensky proposed setting a specific date for the meeting and indicated that several countries "have been traditional hosts of leaders to resolve issues of war and peace," among them he mentioned Switzerland, Turkey and the countries of the Arab world.

"Do not be afraid to take the path that leads out of this war. That is the main thing that is asked of you now," Zelensky wrote.

"Ukraine proposes to end this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I propose a meeting... If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence."

And he warned that the continuation of the conflict could put Putin's personal position at risk: "It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia gets tired, change comes."

In Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed having seen Zelensky's letter and indicated that Putin would be informed of its contents.

With Reuters and EFE

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