US President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed Kyiv’s readiness to negotiate with Russia and finalize a US minerals deal, following a tense confrontation at the White House.
Trump shared a letter from Zelensky, which stated that 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,” he added. Zelensky also expressed a willingness to work under Trump’s leadership to achieve lasting peace, acknowledging America’s crucial support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky indicated he wanted to mend relations with Trump after a dramatic exchange on Friday. During their meeting in the Oval Office, Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude for US aid, and Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader, claiming he had “no cards to play.”
Zelensky left without agreeing to a proposed deal that would allow the US to gain control over Ukrainian mineral resources. Following the meeting, the Trump administration announced it would suspend all military assistance to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian aggression for three years.
In his address to Congress, Trump noted that Zelensky is ready to sign the minerals and security agreement at any time and emphasized that discussions with Russia had provided strong signals of their willingness to seek peace.
“Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” Trump said, expressing optimism for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
