US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky has told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and the finalisation of a US minerals deal, days after the pair’s explosive White House meeting. The dramatic collapse of Kyiv and Washington’s wartime alliance has played out in the open since the televised dispute in the Oval Office last week, followed by Ukraine’s top ally suspending crucial military aid. Zelensky has since sought to bring Trump back onside, posting on social media that their clash was “regrettable” and he wanted “to make things right”.
In his address to US Congress later on Tuesday, Trump read aloud from a letter he said he recently received from Zelensky, which matched the social media statement.
“The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,” Trump told US lawmakers in his first address since returning to office. “We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.’” Addressing Congress, Trump added that, “regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.”
The Kremlin on Wednesday called it “positive” that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared himself ready for talks on ending the three-year conflict with Russia. “This approach is generally positive,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said to reporters in answer to a question. On Wednesday, Peskov cited a decree passed by Zelensky that rules out direct negotiations with Putin.
The Ukrainian leader has since said on multiple occasions he would be willing to meet Putin — but only after Kyiv and its Western allies agree a common negotiating position. Moscow has also accused Zelensky of not being a legitimate leader, citing the expiration of his five-year mandate following his 2019 election as president. Under Ukrainian martial law, elections are banned during wartime. Zelensky’s key European backers have supported the suspension of votes amid Russia’s offensive, though Trump has falsely claimed the Ukrainian leader is widely unpopular at home and called on him to hold elections.
Trump announced a halt to US military aid to Kyiv this week following his clash with Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday. Fears are growing in Kyiv and across Europe that Trump is trying to force Ukraine to accept a peace deal largely favourable to Moscow.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has meanwhile offered to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. “Tell Trump that I expect him here with Putin and Zelensky,” Lukashenko proposed to the three leaders in a video interview with US blogger Mario Nawfal. “We are going to sit down and calmly make an accord,” said Lukashenko, adding there had to be a deal with Zelensky “since a large part of Ukrainian society is with him”.— AFP
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