1
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14a-101)

                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

                                       
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement          [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the
                                               Commission Only (as permitted by
                                               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[X]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12



                    Qwest Communications International Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

   [X]  No fee required.

   [ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

   (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (5)  Total fee paid:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   [ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

   [ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
   Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
   paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
   number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

   (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (3)  Filing Party:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   (4)  Date Filed:

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   2
                                                                    [QWEST LOGO]

April 20, 2001

To all Qwest Employees:

Last month, I gave you our views on two proposals that were submitted for
consideration at our shareowners' meeting on May 2. One proposal asks the Qwest
board to seek advance shareowner approval for severance agreements with
executive officers. The other proposal asks that Qwest not count pension credits
in determining performance-based compensation. We believe the proposals are not
in your best interests or those of our shareowners and customers. For the
reasons set out in the proxy statement, which we mailed to our shareowners last
month, we recommend that all shareowners vote against the proposals.

An update: we are pleased that last week, Institutional Shareholder Services
(ISS) also recommended that Qwest shareowners reject the proposals. ISS is
recognized as the worldwide leader in helping investors research the financial
implications of proxy proposals and casts its clients' votes to protect and
enhance shareholder returns.

ISS recommended against both proposals for essentially the same reasons that we
oppose the proposals. As to the severance proposal, ISS said it supports the
submission of golden parachutes and other severance provisions for shareholder
ratification as a general principle. But it also said Qwest shareowners should
reject the proposal because it would limit our flexibility and would make it
prohibitively difficult to negotiate employment agreements with executives. In
recommending against the pension proposal, ISS said that the method used to
calculate bonuses is not as important as proper disclosure of compensation. ISS
said Qwest shareowners should reject the proposal because it would unduly
restrict our ability to manage our compensation plans.

For these reasons, and the additional reasons we lay out in the proxy statement,
we expect our shareowners will overwhelmingly reject both proposals at the May 2
meeting.

Sincerely,

/s/ JOE NACCHIO

Joe Nacchio