---
title: "\"Audacity in our DNA\": Klimkin assesses Zelenskyy's letter to Putin as a strategic move ahead of the G7 summit"
description: "Pavlo Klimkin called Zelenskyy's letter to Putin a strategically correct step that fixed Ukraine's position ahead of the G7 summit. The expert is confident: audacity is in the Ukrainian DNA, and Europe will no longer be a passive observer in peace negotiations. 🇺🇦📜🤝"
date: 2026-06-09T12:29:19.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/audacity-in-our-dna-klimkin-assesses-zelenskyy-letter-to-putin-as-strategic-move-ahead-of-g7
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Audacity in our DNA": Klimkin assesses Zelenskyy's letter to Putin as a strategic move ahead of the G7 summit

![Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin speaking at a press center, discussing Zelensky's letter to Putin](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/09/klimkin-ocenil-pismo-zelenskogo-putinu-kak-strategicheskiy-hod/klimkin-ocenil-pismo-zelenskogo-putinu-kak-strategicheskiy-hod-1.webp)

The open letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin has sparked a wide resonance not only in Moscow but also in world capitals. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, speaking on the Liga.net project, commented on this step as a continuation of the historical tradition of Ukrainian diplomacy, noting that "audacity and provocation" are part of the national code.

### Reference to history and a multi-level message

Klimkin drew a parallel with the legendary letter from the Zaporozhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan, pointing out that such boldness is inherent to Ukrainians. According to the former diplomat, Zelenskyy's message had a complex structure of addressees. Although formally addressed to the Russian leader, the real goals were broader. Klimkin identified three key groups of recipients:

    - The Ukrainian society, for whom it is important to see a firm position from the leadership;

    - Donald Trump and the US administration;

    - European partners, playing an increasingly active role in the conflict resolution.

### Strategic timing ahead of the G7 summit

One of the main advantages of the publication was its timing. The letter was released on the eve of the "G7" summit in France. Klimkin called this a "good story" allowing to "drive home the point" and fix the Ukrainian position before the start of important international discussions. The effectiveness of the move was confirmed by Donald Trump's reaction, who not only noticed the message but also publicly commented on it.

### The role of Europe and the Kremlin's reaction

According to Klimkin, the letter helped European leaders clearly realize the Ukrainian assessment of the current war and the negotiation process. Europe ceased to be a passive observer, becoming a key participant in shaping the future security architecture. "Now Europeans will definitely not be in second or third roles. Even Putin understands this," emphasized the speaker.

As for the influence on Vladimir Putin, Klimkin skeptically assessed the likelihood of him changing his position under the influence of the text. However, he admitted that the letter successfully provoked the Kremlin into a reaction. The Russian leader rejected the proposal for a personal meeting in a neutral country, calling the letter "rude" and an attempt to sabotage negotiations. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to these accusations, stating that Putin "missed his chance to get out of a war that is a failure for him".

### Current situation with negotiations

Despite the active rhetoric, reality remains complex. Earlier, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has a "window of opportunity" for peace talks before the onset of winter. However, the situation now looks less optimistic. Head of the President's Office Kirill Budanov reported that there is a "certain pause" in negotiations at the highest political level, although the process itself has not been completely stopped. Thus, diplomatic activity continues, but the path to peace remains winding.