Zelensky says letter to Putin achieved intended result, seeks U.S. focus shift and anti-ballistic aid
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 9 that his open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin produced the result he had sought, without disclosing the specific outcome. Speaking at a joint press conference with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Tallinn, Zelensky also revealed he sent multiple letters over the past month to the EU, U.S. Congress, and President Donald Trump, aiming to shift U.S. attention from the Middle East to Ukraine and secure anti-ballistic missile capabilities. Putin responded on June 5 that he saw no point in a meeting, which Zelensky called weak and a sign Russia was choosing war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 9 that his open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin produced the result he had sought, without specifying the outcome, and disclosed that he had sent multiple letters over the past month to the European Union, the U.S. Congress, and President Donald Trump in an effort to shift Washington's focus from the Middle East to Ukraine and secure anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
Speaking at a joint press conference with leaders of Nordic and Baltic countries in Tallinn, Zelensky said: "During one month, I sent several letters with different goals to different institutions beginning from the EU, United States, White House and Congress and also Putin. I had different goals. For example, the United States: I really wanted to do everything to shift a little bit [of their focus] from the Middle East to Ukraine… I can't share with you all the details but I believe my nation needs a lot of antiballistic missiles. And I've got the result and I will not share with you details of this result, but I did it. I had a goal, sending a letter to Putin … and I think I've got the result what I needed."
Zelensky clarified that through the letter to Putin he wanted to show different allies who is ready for peace and who is not. He added that he had obtained a result regarding the United States but could not disclose what it was at that time, saying he had achieved what he set out to do.
On June 4, Zelensky wrote an open letter to Putin proposing a personal meeting to end the war, suggesting it could take place in third countries that traditionally serve as venues for international negotiations. Putin responded on June 5, saying he had read the letter but "saw no point in holding a meeting" with the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky called Putin's response weak and said it meant Russia was once again choosing war.
At the end of May, Zelensky sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump warning of a growing shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine, particularly capabilities for countering ballistic missiles.