Despite a confrontational meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains committed to securing U.S. support. Following a canceled joint news conference, Zelensky emphasized the importance of U.S. backing for peace and security, stating, “We want peace.” He acknowledged that negotiations with Russia require strength and security guarantees. Zelensky expressed gratitude for American support and reiterated the need for genuine peace, stressing that a mere ceasefire would be inadequate. He confirmed readiness to sign a minerals deal as an initial step toward deeper security arrangements, maintaining that Russia remains the enemy in ongoing conflict.
A loud exchange in the Oval Office, broadcast around the globe, involving US President Donald Trump has seemingly not dissuaded Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr. Zelensky, whose joint news conference and signing ceremony for a rare minerals deal was called off, after US officials instructed Ukrainians to leave, emphasized today that it is “crucial for us to have President Trump’s support”.
“We are seeking peace. That’s why I came to the United States and met with President Trump. The minerals deal is merely the initial step toward security assurances and moving closer to peace. Our circumstances are challenging, but we cannot cease fighting without guarantees that Putin won’t return tomorrow,” Mr. Zelensky shared on X.
Shortly after his tense interaction with the Ukrainian leader, Mr. Trump stated in a social media post that Mr. Zelensky could return “when he is ready for peace”. Mr. Trump also accused the Ukrainian leader of “disrespecting the United States of America in its revered Oval Office”.
“I have concluded that President Zelensky is not prepared for Peace with America’s involvement, as he believes our participation gives him a significant edge in negotiations. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Mr. Zelensky expressed his gratitude to numerous allies on social media on Saturday, following Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s accusations that he was not sufficiently appreciative.
On X, he responded with “Thank you for your support” in individual replies to about 30 supportive messages from European leaders after his much-highlighted confrontation with the new US administration at the White House.
Despite the disagreement, Zelensky previously thanked Mr. Trump, the US Congress, and the American populace for their support during his visit. He reiterated his thanks in a separate post today.
“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump and Congress for their bipartisan backing, and to the American people. Ukrainians have always valued this support, particularly during these three years of full-scale invasion. America’s assistance has been pivotal in helping us endure, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the challenging dialogue, we remain strategic partners. However, we must be honest and direct to truly grasp our shared objectives,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned on X.
“It is essential for us to secure President Trump’s support. He desires to end the war, but no one yearns for peace more than we do. We are the ones enduring this conflict in Ukraine. It’s a struggle for our liberty, for our very existence,” he stated.
Mr. Zelensky, quoting President Ronald Reagan’s “Peace is not just the absence of war,” emphasized that Ukraine is pursuing just and lasting peace. He further asserted that a ceasefire wouldn’t be effective with Putin, given that he has “broken ceasefires 25 times in the last decade”.
As an initial step towards peace, Mr. Zelensky, despite the unpleasant Oval Office memory, conveyed his readiness to sign the minerals agreement, stressing that the Ukrainian people “need to know that America stands with us”.
“We are set to sign the minerals agreement, and it will represent the first step toward security assurances. However, that is insufficient, and we need more than that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is perilous for Ukraine. We’ve been battling for three years, and the Ukrainian populace needs to know that America supports us,” asserted Mr. Zelensky.
Mr. Zelensky firmly stated that “Russia is the enemy” and that Ukraine must foster strength at the negotiation table.
“I cannot alter Ukraine’s stance on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the adversary, and that’s the harsh truth we confront. Ukraine aspires for peace, but it must be just and enduring. To achieve this, we must be strong at the negotiation table. Peace will only arise when we are confident that we have security guarantees, when our military is robust, and our partners are united with us,” he concluded.