Harry on visit to Kyiv demands Putin ‘stop this war’

The Duke of Sussex has condemned “systematic war crimes” in the Ukraine conflict and directly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this war”.

During a surprise visit to the country’s war-torn capital on Thursday, Harry gave a long and impassioned speech to the Kiev Security Forum, saying he was “here not as a politician” but as a “service-savvy soldier” and a humanitarian.

In a rare foray into global affairs, the King’s youngest son turned his attention to the United States (though he did not mention President Donald Trump by name), urging “American leadership” to “fulfill its international treaty obligations” as part of its “enduring role in global security.”

Addressing Putin, Harry called on the Russian leader to “prevent further suffering” for both Ukrainians and Russians and choose a different path.

“President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we ​​are witnessing,” Harry said.

“There is still a moment to stop this war, prevent further suffering for both Ukrainians and Russians, and choose a different path.”

He condemned “systematic war crimes” and “chilling” treatment of Ukrainian children.

Harry suggested that the conflict was “not just a war about land” but a war about “values” and “sovereignty”.

“This is what leadership looks like in the modern world,” he said, praising the resilience of the Ukrainian people and speaking of the “staggering” human cost of the war.

The Duke, who served two front-line tours in Afghanistan, said: “I’m not here as a politician.

“I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes that the world should not get used to this war or become numb to its consequences.”

Harry was filmed by ITV News arriving at Kiev train station on Thursday morning, getting off an overnight train from Poland and greeting and hugging people on the platform.

Harry also told The Sun newspaper: “It’s good to be back in Ukraine, a country that bravely and successfully defended Europe’s eastern flank.”

His speech came just four days before his father, the King, embarks on a major state visit to America to see Trump, amid trans-Atlantic tensions over the Iran conflict.

Harry’s unannounced visit – his third trip to Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022 – comes just days after he wrapped up a trip to Australia with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.