WNAM MONITORING: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed regret Tuesday to US President Donald Trump over their contentious meeting last week at the White House, saying it had not gone as planned.
On X, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to begin negotiations with Russia as soon as possible to resolve the military conflict, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right,” he wrote. “We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
Zelenskyy added that he and his team stand ready to work “under Trump’s strong leadership.”
Outlining initial steps to end the Ukraine war, Zelenskyy proposed the release of prisoners, a “truce in the sky” – banning missile strikes, long-range drones and bombings of energy and civilian infrastructure – as well as an immediate “truce at sea.”
He also expressed his gratitude for US support, citing a key piece of its military aid: “And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.”
On possible agreements on minerals and security, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine’s readiness to sign them at “any time and in any convenient format.”
On Monday, Trump ordered a “pause” in US military aid to Ukraine in the wake of last week’s meeting.
In a separate statement, Zelenskyy said Europe continues to support Ukraine, as was confirmed by a number of European leaders he spoke with, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, as well as Friedrich Merz, the leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which won the recent Bundestag elections.
Zelenskyy added that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also reiterated his support for Kyiv.
“Clear support for Ukraine. Thank you,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“There are very important updates from the European Commission regarding substantial funding for Europe’s defense. For us, this primarily means additional air defense – more systems, more missiles, additional capabilities to protect our cities and villages, our positions. All of this creates a solid additional foundation for our efforts to bring the war to an end,” he added.
He said he would continue consultations and new joint steps will be taken, adding, “Ukraine deserves peace. Ukrainians deserve respect.”
