In his first public comments since Trump halted US military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky said his public bust-up with Trump last week was “regrettable” and pledged to sign a key minerals deal with Washington.
He also called for a “truce” in the sea and sky as a first step to ending the three-year war with Russia.
A dramatic collapse in the Kyiv-Washington wartime alliance has played out in the open since a televised dispute between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office last week, mounting as Ukraine’s top ally suspended crucial military aid.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” the Ukrainian leader added. “It is time to make things right.”
He told Ukrainians in his regular evening address he had instructed his defence and intelligence chiefs to contact their US counterparts to “get official information” on the aid freeze.
Trump’s stunning decision Monday to halt assistance to Ukraine deepened fears in Kyiv and many European capitals that America was pivoting away from its allies — and towards Russia.
Moscow hailed Trump’s decision, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it a “solution which could really push the Kyiv regime to a peace process”.
The European Union, which — along with Ukraine — is excluded from US-Russian negotiations towards a potential truce, has been scrambling to bolster support for Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Zelensky for his willingness to “re-engage in dialogue” with Trump, his office said.
Still, Europe is fearing for the future of US-European defence cooperation.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen presented an EU plan to mobilise some 800 billion euros (US$840 billion) for Europe’s defence.
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, meanwhile said he would support the immediate approval of a three-billion-euro Ukraine aid package held up in parliament, calling it “urgent”.
The EU on Thursday is to hold an emergency summit aimed at cementing joint European support for Ukraine. (AFP)
