A day after a heated exchange with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled Ukraine’s willingness to sign a minerals deal with the US but emphasised that his nation seeks “real peace”.
“We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for 3 years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side,” he wrote on X.
In the social media post, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for American support, stating, “We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and the American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion.”
Reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to peace, he added, “America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”
According to a report by Reuters, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of Ukraine’s voice being heard globally, adding, “It is important for people in Ukraine to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world.”
Relations between the two countries reached a new low following Zelenskyy’s contentious meeting with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance on Friday. The meeting, intended to finalise a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, instead escalated into a verbal clash, with Trump urging Zelenskyy to accept a ceasefire and accusing him of stalling negotiations. Zelenskyy pushed back, stating that Ukraine cannot shift its stance on Russia overnight and that the spat with Trump was detrimental to both nations.
Following the tense exchange, world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, voiced their support for Ukraine.