Ukrainian President Zelensky sends open letter to Russian President Putin proposing direct negotiations to end war
via Business News2 min read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, June 4, 2026, inviting him to engage in direct negotiations to end more than four years of war between the two countries. Zelensky stated that the conflict, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022, can only be resolved through high-level dialogue. He proposed a face-to-face meeting in a neutral country, suggesting Switzerland, Turkey, or certain Arab states as potential venues. The Ukrainian head of state also expressed readiness to accept a complete ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations, viewing it as an essential starting point for a lasting peace agreement. He further proposed a full exchange of prisoners of war and discussions on the return of Ukrainian civilians and children transferred to Russia since the conflict began. In his letter, Zelensky criticized Putin's twenty-six years in power, attributing the war to the Russian president's personal choice. He claimed the conflict is increasingly burdening Russian society, which he said faces inflation, fuel shortages, and growing weariness from human losses and economic consequences. The Ukrainian president warned that his country would continue to fight if Moscow refused the diplomatic path, stating, "Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence," while urging Putin to "end this war" before its consequences become irreversible for both nations. This initiative comes as months of mediation
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Must ReadA video depicting the assault of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia has sparked widespread controversy. The footage shows men entering a residence occupied by migrants, with a visibly distressed, partially undressed pregnant woman pleading with her attackers, while other migrants appear terrified. Individuals can be heard laughing, insulting, and shouting commands like "get them out" in Tunisian dialect. The video's circulation led to outrage online, with many condemning the humiliating acts. However, some publications attempted to discredit the video, claiming it was fabricated to harm Tunisia's image, suggesting it was filmed in Sudan with an added Tunisian soundtrack. These claims were supported by a screenshot of a search result linking the video to a humorous Sudanese content titled "Tamboul Tembelet Belil." A thorough verification of the video, analyzing both visual and audio elements, found no evidence of artificial sound addition; the movements and speech align perfectly. The visual content, showing a crying, shocked pregnant woman and terrified migrants, contradicts any notion of a humorous or festive scene. Furthermore, comparisons confirmed that the video in question is distinct from the Sudanese "Tamboul Tembelet Belil" content. The argument that the video is fake, based on a search result, is a misinterpretation. The verification concludes that the video is not a fabrication, and the images and sound are coherent, depicting a real scene. While the exact date and loc
On June 3, 2026, a Tunisian investigating judge issued four arrest warrants in a baccalaureate exam fraud case, involving a secondary teacher, a university student, and two high school students. Another student involved remains free but is under investigation. Separately, two disturbing videos circulated online showing violence against sub-Saharan migrants, including an alleged attempted rape of a pregnant woman. On June 4, 2026, the Assembly of People's Representatives ARP bureau, chaired by Ibrahim Bouderbala, decided to review requests for lifting parliamentary immunity for several deputies on June 23, 2026, in a closed session. Also on June 4, 2026, the National Administrative Body of the Tunisian General Labour Union UGTT met under the presidency of its Secretary-General, Slaheddine Selmi, to discuss the country's general situation and the union's activities, emphasizing strengthening ties with workers and increasing membership. Finally, the United States celebrated the delivery of 48 HMMWV armored vehicles to the Tunisian army at the El Aouina military base in Tunis, an event attended by US Ambassador Bill Bazzi and Tunisian and American officials, aimed at enhancing Tunisia's operational capabilities and its ability to conduct joint exercises and rapid response missions.
Must ReadA coalition of civil society organizations, political parties, and associations issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 4, 2026, strongly condemning a video circulating on social media. The video shows individuals entering a migrant family's home and issuing death threats and rape threats against a pregnant woman in front of her husband. The signatories expressed their "anger and indignation" over this "appalling crime," stating that it is part of a broader increase in racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory rhetoric in Tunisia, as well as a rise in violence targeting sub-Saharan African migrants and Black individuals in Tunisia. They believe this aggression cannot be separated from the climate created since the presidential statement of February 21, 2023, on irregular immigration. They argue that this date marked the beginning of a period where migrants became targets of political and media discourse portraying them as a demographic, security, and social threat. The signatories contend that this rhetoric has normalized discrimination and dehumanized migrants, leading to more frequent attacks. They assert that when a group of people is constantly targeted by campaigns of demonization, suspicion, and incitement to hatred, violence against them becomes a predictable consequence. They also denounced the recurring impunity for attacks against migrants, suggesting that the lack of prosecution implies that migrants' lives and dignity are valued less than those of other citizens.
Journalist Mourad Zeghidi has begun a hunger strike to protest what his family describes as "injustice" and "judicial harassment" he has faced for over two years. His family announced the decision on Thursday, June 4, 2026, stating that the situation had become "untenable." They expressed deep concern for his health and the potential physical and psychological consequences of the strike. The family views this action as the culmination of a long period marked by what they consider unjust prosecutions and violations of his fundamental rights. They are appealing to human rights defenders, journalists, civil society organizations, public figures, and citizens for active solidarity and are reiterating their demand for an end to the judicial harassment and for Zeghidi's release. This announcement follows the confirmation by the criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal of sentences against Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bssais. On May 12, 2026, a three-year and six-month prison sentence was confirmed. The two journalists had previously received an eight-month sentence in another case related to decree-law 54 concerning the fight against false information and offenses committed via information and communication systems. According to their lawyer, Ghazi Mrabet, the convictions are now final, bringing their total sentence to four years and two months in prison, with their release not expected until the end of June 2028.