In a statement on X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace, saying, “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
He said that 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 added.
He added that Ukraine really values how much America has done to help it maintain its sovereignty and independence.
Also, Zelenskyy expressed readiness to sign the minerals agreement with the United States “in 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.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Ukrainian President outlined a path towards a peace agreement, which he said could begin with a release of prisoners and a halt to air and sea attacks, if Russia did the same. “Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal,” he added.
Moreso, Zelenskyy expressed regret at last week’s Oval Office clash with US President, Donald Trump.
“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.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Trump To Outline Plan For Ukraine
Zelenskyy’s statement follows after Trump halted military aid to Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to further outline his plans for Ukraine and Russia in a major speech to Congress later today, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
His abrupt pivot towards Russia may be the most dramatic U.S. geopolitical shift in generations.
Defending Europe from a hostile Kremlin has been the lodestar of U.S. foreign and defence policy under both parties since the 1940s.
Trump’s moves have appalled Democrats, but have so far drawn little or no pushback from Republican leaders in Congress, including many who were once strong, vocal backers of Ukraine.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians.”
Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment, opined that the US cut-off is pretty significant, but not nearly as impactful as it would have been earlier in the war because Ukraine is far less dependent on direct U.S. military assistance now.
Kyiv has relied on US and European military aid to hold off a bigger and better-armed foe throughout three years of warfare that has killed and injured hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides.
The pause puts more pressure on European allies who have publicly embraced Zelenskiy since the Oval Office blow-up, led by Britain and France whose leaders both visited the White House last week and have offered troops to help guard a potential ceasefire.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers that it is now the responsibility of Europe to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine was able to hold the front line. “We Europeans are now faced with a choice that is imposed on us: that of effort and freedom, or that of comfort and servitude,” he said.
Europeans are racing to boost their own military spending.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled proposals to raise spending on defence in the EU, which she said could mobilise up to 800 billion euros ($840 billion).
The EU is holding an emergency summit on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
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