Prince Harry delivers message to Trump and Putin in surprise speech from Ukraine today
Apr 23, 2026
Prince Harry has issued a message directly to two presidents - Trump and Putin - about the war in Ukraine.
He was speaking in Kyiv at the start of an unannounced visit in which he is meeting senior members of the Ukrainian military and some of the thousands of soldiers who have been seriously wounded in the conflict.
He also defended his visit to Ukraine, saying he was “not here as a politician”.
The Duke of Sussex was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the Kyiv Security Forum which is taking place despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Prince Harry told the Russian president that there is “still a moment, now, to stop this war”.
"Years into this war", Harry told President Putin, "with immense losses and limited gains, it is increasingly clear that this path offers no victor - only more loss.”
He added: "President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing.”
He gave the speech hours after stepping off an overnight train from Poland and arriving at Kyiv’s central station at 8am.
The prince did not mention Donald Trump by name but he said he had a message for the “American leadership”.
Harry said the US - his adopted country - has a “singular role” in this conflict because, when Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear weapons, America had pledged to protect Ukraine’s borders and its sovereignty.
He told the Trump administration: "This is a moment for American leadership – a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations - not out of charity, but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”
Harry will undertake engagements with the the Invictus Games foundation he founded after he left the British Army.
There is a staggering number of Ukrainian soldiers with life-changing injuries. It runs into the many tens of thousands.
Harry will also see the work of the de-mining charity, The Halo Trust, which is close to his heart because of his mother’s work with them in Angola shortly before she died.
Princess Diana was famously filmed walking through a cleared minefield with a flak jacket and visor.
= new reply since forum marked as read
but I especially detest those who avoid service but then enable wars and profit from them 
I was heartbroken to learn it was the actual car Harold ran off the cliff at the end of the film. 
Cat Stevens did a spectular job with the soundtrack.
That was brilliant! 
An all-encompassing speech for the ages. "Strength in Unity" 
I love what he said about "Defending Democracy."
"Ukraine is not standing alone."
"Ukraine has earned the Respect of the World"!!
So many important, heartfelt moments. 💙💔☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜
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