Open letter to all Russians

By Jürgen Giebler

Wednesday 31 December 2025

How can Putin be stopped? The other Russia. What if Russia joined the NATO and EU? After democratic forces in Russia come to power. Utopia? Since the fall of the Wall, I believe that anything is possible. The future means discovering opportunities instead of concerns. 75% of Russians fear a nuclear war; they must be won over for an opposition to Putin. It cannot be that a country like Russia, with only 144 million people, decides the fate of all humanity. Russians, Europeans, Americans, and Asians have been flying together into space for decades. Everything could be so simple. In Iran, the murder of Mahsa Amini led to protests by hundreds of thousands. Even though they risk their lives. After the publication of this letter to the editor/proposal, millions of Russians could protest against Putin's current policies. Putin cannot imprison millions of Russians.

It would be enough if the relatives of all Russian soldiers took to the streets. It is important that Russians learn about the casualty numbers. The fallen, injured,  deserted and traumatized (as of November 2025, over 1,000,000) aside from the casualties on the Ukrainian side, especially among the civilian population. They might face imprisonment, but I don't believe that the Russian security forces would shoot at them. It is conceivable to establish a democratic party that could unite the absolute majority in the country. The war could last for years and could  demand hundreds of thousands more victims on both sides. Russian soldiers should refuse to follow the orders of their officers until peace with Ukraine is achieved. Your soldiers are dying in an unjust war. Return to your barracks and help ensure that regular elections can take place in Russia. Everything that is conceivable is also achievable.

Advantages/possible changes:

1. The war with Ukraine and the new cold war with the West could be ended immediately.

2. There is only one way to exclude a nuclear war between Russia and the West. That is Russia's accession to NATO. The worst-case scenario of a nuclear war could be minimized many times over. The deployment of intermediate-range missiles could be waived

3. Putin could be put on trial in Russia. On September 9, 2023, Russian deputies wanted to remove Putin from office for high treason.

4. Russia could turn economically closer to the EU and America instead of China.

5. From Russia's military expenditures of 149 billion dollars in 2024, at least 50% could be saved.

6. The opposition led by Boris Nadezhdin in Russia and Yulia Navalnaya abroad could be strengthened. The kept-in-the-dark Russian population could learn about a peaceful alternative.

7. Protests against the war and for new elections could take place every Sunday in front of and inside churches in Russia.

8. The Ukrainian children who were abducted to Russia could be brought back to Ukraine.

9. Millions of Ukrainians could return to their homeland.

10. Cooperation with Iran and North Korea could be terminated.

11. Assad could be extradited to Syria. Further Russian-supported governments could be overthrown.

12. All sanctions against Russia could be lifted.

13. Grain embargoes against Ukraine could be lifted.

14. Political prisoners in Russia could be released.

15. Rapists, serious criminals, and murderers from the Wagner group could be re-incarcerated.

16. Corruption in Russia could be effectively combated. Putin's wealth is estimated at least 36 billion euros.

17. The threat of a nuclear accident in Zaporizhzhia could be minimized.

18. Those responsible for the shooting down of flight MH 17 could stand trial in a Dutch court.

19. War criminals of massacres such as in Bucha could be brought to justice.

20. Reparations for destroyed buildings and infrastructure must be paid.

21. Compensation for killed and injured Ukrainians and Russians must be provided.

22. Russian troops withdraw from occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea.

23. Russia's cyber war against the West could be ended immediately.

24. Russians living in exile could return to their homeland.

25. The murders of political opponents (e.g. Navalny) could be thoroughly investigated and punished.

God grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other. The Russian population has it in their own hands to become a respected member of the international community again. The war in Ukraine is decided in Russia. Much innocent blood is on Putin's hands.How could this proposal be spread worldwide? Mrs. Navalnaya reads the proposal on her television channel. Ukraine drops leaflets over the front line and broadcasts propaganda to the front with loudspeaker trucks.

A first step on the way to lasting peace. Ukraine and Russia agree from 06.01.2026 00:00 (start of Russian Christmas) on a permanent ceasefire on land, sea, and air. The front line will be temporarily frozen. An observer force provided by, for example, India and China, will monitor compliance with the ceasefire until 21.02.2026. On 22.02.2026, a referendum would take place in Russia to vote on whether to continue or end the war.