Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday expressed his desire to “make things right” with Donald Trump and work under the U.S. president’s “strong leadership” to secure lasting peace in Ukraine.
Following Trump’s decision to halt U.S. military aid, Zelensky called for a “truce” in the sea and sky as an initial step toward ending the three-year war. He also pledged to sign a key minerals agreement with Washington.
The dramatic deterioration in Kyiv-Washington relations has played out publicly since a tense Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and Trump last week. The fallout culminated in the U.S. suspending crucial military assistance to Ukraine.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to achieve a lasting peace,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Our White House meeting on Friday did not go as planned. It is time to make things right.”
Trump’s sudden decision on Monday to pause aid has raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Washington is shifting away from its allies and closer to Moscow.
The Kremlin welcomed the move, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it a “decision that could push the Kyiv regime toward peace.” Peskov added, “If the U.S. halts military supplies, that would be the best contribution to ending the conflict.”
The European Union, which has been left out of U.S.-Russia truce negotiations, is now scrambling to reinforce support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a plan on Tuesday to mobilize €800 billion ($840 billion) for European defense, pledging to “massively step up” military assistance for Kyiv.
An emergency EU summit on Thursday will focus on solidifying European backing for Ukraine.
Public and Political Reactions
Many Ukrainians expressed shock at what they see as Trump’s betrayal.
“It feels like a stab in the back,” said Sofia, a 33-year-old financial assistant in Kyiv.
“He wants Ukraine’s surrender, the deaths of our people, and the loss of our territories,” wrote army volunteer Sergiy Sternenko on Telegram.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak stated on X that Kyiv is “exploring options with European partners” while remaining open to negotiations with the U.S.
Poland’s government noted that the U.S. decision was made without consulting NATO allies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed reports of disruptions at a weapons and aid logistics hub for Ukraine.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou told lawmakers that “entire trains” carrying U.S. military supplies for Ukraine had been stopped. He pledged that France would rally “all possible resources” to fill the aid gap.
The New York Times reported that the U.S. pause affects hundreds of millions of dollars in weaponry already in transit to Ukraine.
Diplomatic Maneuvering
During his recent visit to Washington, Zelensky had planned to sign a major minerals deal with the U.S. but left without doing so after his tense meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. On Tuesday, he reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to finalize the agreement “at any time and in any convenient format.”
Kyiv is also pursuing robust security guarantees. With NATO membership blocked by the U.S., Ukraine is exploring alternative Western-backed measures.
In London, British and French officials are examining a proposal for a one-month Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, possibly backed by ground forces.
Vance dismissed the idea of “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years” sending troops to Ukraine, triggering backlash from European leaders. He later clarified on X that he was not referring to France or Britain, acknowledging both nations’ military contributions over the past two decades.
AFP
