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Roger Waters pens open letter to Vladimir Putin, urging him to end war in Ukraine
Roger Waters has penned an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to put an end to the war in Ukraine. READ MORE: Roger Waters tells Ukraine to “stop the slaughter”, criticises Western military support of Ukrainian forces “Would you like to see an end to this war?” The Pink Floyd rocker addressed Putin […]
Image: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro / Andy Gallagher / Alamy
Roger Waters has penned an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to put an end to the war in Ukraine.
“Would you like to see an end to this war?” The Pink Floyd rocker addressed Putin in a letter on Sunday (25 September). “If you were to reply and say, ‘Yes please.’ That would immediately make things a lot easier.
“If you were to come out and say, ‘Also the Russian Federation has no further territorial interest beyond the security of the Russian speaking populations of The Crimea, Donetsk and Lubansk.’ That would help too.”
On the flipside, if the Russian President intends to “overrun the whole of Europe, starting with Poland and the rest of the Baltic states,” said Waters, then the world “might as well all stop playing the desperately dangerous game of nuclear chicken that the hawks on both sides of the Atlantic seem so comfortable with, and have at it.”
“Yup, just blow each other and the world to smithereens.”
The artist then urged Putin to issue a message of assurance that Russia does not in fact intend to overrun Europe, as he “[has] kids and grandkids, and so do most of my brothers and sisters all over the world and none of us would relish that outcome”.
“If I’ve read your previous speeches correctly, you would like to negotiate a state of neutrality for a sovereign neighbouring Ukraine? Is that correct?” he questioned. “Assuming such a peace could be negotiated it would have to include an absolutely binding agreement not to invade anyone ever again.”
Water added that “I know, the USA and NATO invade other sovereign countries at the drop of a hat, or for a few barrels of oil, but that doesn’t mean you should” and that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine “was a heinous war of aggression, provoked or not.”
“If you were to reply to me, I would mightily respect you for it, and take it as an honourable move in the right direction towards a sustainable peace,” he concluded.
Read the full letter below.
Roger WatersLos Angeles, CASunday 25th September 2022Recently I have been reading comments on social media, asking why I’ve written to Mrs. Olena Zelenska but not Mr. Vladimir Putin? Very good question, I’m glad you asked, here it is. Roger Waters' open letter to Vladimir Putin.Dear President Putin, since The Russian Federation invaded Ukraine on February 24th this year I have tried to use my small influence to encourage a ceasefire and a diplomatic settlement that addresses the security needs of both Ukraine and The Russian Federation. In that endeavor I have written two open letters to Mrs. Olena Zelenska the wife of the Ukrainian President. These letters are readily available on the internet. I am increasingly asked to write to you too, so here goes. Firstly, would you like to see an end to this war? If you were to reply and say, “Yes please.” That would immediately make things a lot easier. If you were to come out and say, “Also the Russian Federation has no further territorial interest beyond the security of the Russian speaking populations of The Crimea, Donetsk and Lubansk.” That would help too. I say this because, I know some people who think you want to overrun the whole of Europe, starting with Poland and the rest of the Baltic states. If you do, fuck you, and we might as well all stop playing the desperately dangerous game of nuclear chicken that the hawks on both sides of the Atlantic seem so comfortable with, and have at it. Yup, just blow each other and the world to smithereens. The problem is, I have kids and grandkids, and so do most of my brothers and sisters all over the world and none of us would relish that outcome. So, please Mr Putin indulge me, and make us that assurance. Alright back to the table, if I’ve read your previous speeches correctly, you would like to negotiate a state of neutrality for a sovereign neighboring Ukraine? Is that correct? Assuming such a peace could be negotiated it would have to include an absolutely binding agreement not to invade anyone ever again. I know, I know, the USA and NATO invade other sovereign countries at the drop of a hat, or for a few barrels of oil, but that doesn’t mean you should, your invasion of Ukraine took me completely by surprise, it was a heinous war of aggression, provoked or not.When Mrs. Zelenska replied to me via Twitter, I was very surprised and mightily moved, if you were to reply to me, I would mightily respect you for it, and take it as an honorable move in the right direction towards a sustainable peace. Yours sincerelyRoger Waters
Posted by Roger Waters on Monday, September 26, 2022
Waters’ latest statement comes weeks after the artist penned an open letter to Ukranian First Lady Olena Zelenska, in which he criticised the West for supplying weapons to Ukraine, and requested for Zelenska to persuade her husband to “stop the slaughter”.
Zelenska has since responded via a tweet asking Waters to direct his requests for peace to the Russian Federation instead.
It is Russia which invaded 🇺🇦, destroys cities and kills civilians. Ukrainians defend their land and their children’s future.
If we give up — we will not exist tomorrow. If 🇷🇺 gives up — war will be over.@rogerwaters, you’d better ask RF’s President for peace. Not Ukraine.
— Олена Зеленська (@ZelenskaUA) September 6, 2022