Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled a shift in his tone and position on Tuesday regarding Russia’s war in his country after his disastrous meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the White House last week.
“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace,” Zelensky posted on X. “None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.”
“Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians,” he continued. “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
His comments come after he told the Associated Press this week that the end of the war against Russia was “very, very far away” — a comment that stoked a strong reaction from Trump.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump said in response in a statement posted on social media.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” he continued. “What are they thinking?”
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) March 3, 2025
In his statement on Tuesday, Zelensky signaled that he wanted a ceasefire — a reversal from recent remarks that he has made.
“We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same,” he wrote. “Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.”
He also thanked the U.S. and Trump for providing support to his country.
“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence,” he said. “And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.”
Zelensky indicated that he regretted how the meeting in the Oval Office went on Friday but stopped short of apologizing — something that Trump allies say the president wants to see him do publicly.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” he wrote. “It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
He also signaled that he was ready to sign the minerals and security deal between the two countries at “any time and in any convenient format.”
“We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively,” he added.
I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace.
None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2025
