March 5 \u2013 Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to work under Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cstrong leadership\u201d to achieve a lasting peace days after their explosive Oval Office meeting.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian president described the White House showdown as \u201cregrettable\u201d in a lengthy social media post in the wake of the US announcing a pause in military aid to Kyiv.<\/p>\n
Zelensky said \u201cit was time to make things right\u201d, after Trump had accused him of not being ready to come to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian leader also outlined the first stages of how the war could be ended.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky \u2013 ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure \u2013 and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his social media post, Zelensky said Friday\u2019s meeting \u201cdid not go the way it was supposed to be\u201d, adding: \u201cIt is regrettable that it happened this way,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIt is time to make things right. We would like future co-operation and communication to be constructive.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also reiterated that Ukraine was ready to sign a minerals deal with the US, after the failure to do so at the Washington meeting.<\/p>\n
Ukraine woke to the news on Tuesday that the US was \u201cpausing and reviewing\u201d its military aid to the country after a breakdown in diplomacy last week.<\/p>\n
In his post, Zelensky offered an overt declaration of gratitude for the help the US has so far given to his country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this,\u201d he added, referring to the US anti-tank missile system sold to Ukraine during Trump\u2019s first administration.<\/p>\n
During Friday\u2019s meeting in the Oval Office,\u00a0Vice-President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful<\/a>\u00a0for the military support the US had provided.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you said \u2018thank you\u2019 once this entire meeting?\u201d Vance said, before Trump told Zelensky he was not being \u201cvery thankful\u201d.<\/p>\n Zelensky defended himself in the meeting, and began an interview with Fox News in the hours afterwards, saying: \u201cI\u2019m very thankful to Americans for all your support.\u201d<\/p>\n The Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and US officials last week was due to conclude with the two parties signing a deal that would\u00a0grant the US access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n After the clash, which saw\u00a0Trump accuse Zelensky of \u201cgambling with World War III\u201d<\/a>, the Ukrainian delegation left without signing the deal \u2013 Trump told Zelensky \u201ccome back when you\u2019re ready for peace\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump is due to deliver an address to Congress later on Tuesday, during which the Reuters news agency reports he plans to announce a minerals deal between US and Ukraine has been signed.<\/p>\n A number of Ukraine\u2019s allies have commented on the latest from the Ukrainian president, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who welcomed Zelensky\u2019s \u201csteadfast commitment to securing peace\u201d.<\/p>\n It is \u201cvital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible\u201d, a statement from No 10 said.<\/p>\n Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron praised Zelensky\u2019s willingness to \u201cre-engage in dialogue\u201d with Trump, the Elysee Palace said.<\/p>\n Days before his meeting with Zelensky, the US President had met with Macron, who travelled to Washington with a warning to Trump: \u201cYou can\u2019t be weak in the face of Putin.\u201d<\/p>\n While European leaders rallied behind Zelensky following the clash, Nato\u2019s secretary general advised the Ukrainian leader to \u201cfind a way\u201d to restore his relationship with Trump.<\/p>\n Speaking to the BBC the following day, Mark Rutte said he had told him \u201cwe have to respect\u201d what Trump has done for Ukraine so far.<\/p>\n