During his visit to Kyiv, Prince Harry called on Vladimir Putin to end the war
Britain’s Prince Harry paid an unannounced visit to Kyiv and spoke at the Kyiv Security Forum. In his speech, he appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
He emphasised that he was speaking not as a politician, but as a soldier, a humanitarian and a friend of Ukraine. “I am here not as a politician, but as a soldier who understands military service, as a humanitarian who sees the human cost of the conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes that the world must not forget this war or ignore its consequences,” said the prince.
Addressing Vladimir Putin, he stated that no nation benefits from the constant loss of life, and called for an end to the war to prevent further suffering among Ukrainians and Russians. “President Putin, no nation benefits from the constant loss of life that we are witnessing. There is still time to stop this war and choose a different path,” he noted.
Prince Harry also condemned the systematic war crimes being committed during the conflict. According to him, these include deliberate attacks on civilians, mass killings, torture, sexual violence and the forced deportation of communities.
He specifically mentioned the situation regarding Ukrainian children, describing it as horrific. “Under international law, the forcible transfer of children from one ethnic group to another is not merely a war crime; it can be considered an act of genocide,” he said.
The Prince emphasised that such actions are not accidental consequences of war. “This is not collateral damage. It is organised, systematic and deliberate,” he added.
During his speech, he also mentioned the role of the United States, noting that after Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons, the US was among the guarantors of its security. He stressed that this is a moment for the American leadership to demonstrate its commitment to international obligations.
In conclusion, Prince Harry stated that the war is being fought not only for territory but also for shared values, and praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
This is Prince Harry’s third visit to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022.
