After a dramatic showdown with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared he wanted to “make things right” and collaborate under Trump’s “strong leadership” to secure durable peace for Ukraine.
Zelensky spoke about the recent summit in a tweet, stating, “Our Washington meeting last Friday didn’t go as planned. Sorry it ended that way. It’s time to set things right. We’re hoping for further cooperation and good communication.” Those remarks followed Trump’s suspension of American military aid to Ukraine, a move that is raising alarm in Kyiv.
The suspension was warmly welcomed by the Kremlin, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as the “best contribution” to peace and suggesting it could push Kyiv towards pursuing a peace process. Experts warn that any halt in U.S. weapons deliveries could severely cut Ukraine’s ability to counter Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Zelensky appealed for a joint will to complete the war. “None of us would like eternal war. Ukraine would be ready to negotiate as soon as possible in order to become a step closer to eternal peace. No one would like peace more than Ukrainians. My team is ready to work side by side with President Trump’s strong leadership in order to achieve a lasting agreement.”
Negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials on the war have infuriated Kyiv and Europe, with concerns that Ukraine will be relegated to the margins of any potential agreement. “We are prepared to move quickly in order to end the war, starting with prisoner exchange and the establishment of a ceasefire on missile and drone attacks on civilian targets,” Zelensky outlined. He once more requested quick momentum toward a comprehensive agreement.
Highlighting the significance of US support, Zelensky stated, “We are thankful for everything America has done to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty. We remember when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins; that was a turning point for us.”
He also disclosed that Kyiv was ready to ink a deal granting the U.S. privileged access to Ukraine’s gas and minerals at “any time and in any convenient format.” That deal was initially set to be signed in Washington before Zelensky’s sudden departure following the public rift with Trump.
