Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told President Trump on Tuesday that the time had come to “make things right” after the US paused all military aid to Ukraine, but stopped short of apologizing for his role in a dramatic Oval Office dispute the previous Friday.
“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. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” Zelensky, 47, wrote on X.
The Ukrainian president had come to Washington on Friday expecting to sign a framework minerals deal with the US, but was booted from the White House after his meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance descended into a shouting match over perceived “disrespect.”
Trump, 78, said at the time that he would next speak to Zelensky “when he is ready for Peace.” The White House announced the pause in aid to Ukraine Monday night.
“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace,” Zelensky duly wrote in his X message Tuesday. “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 President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
Vance, speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the Capitol, said the Trump team wants the Ukrainians coming to the table “privately” and offering what they would be willing to do to stop the three-year-old war.
The VP, 40, added to reporters he thinks Trump is “still committed to the mineral deal” and wants to see it go through — and that military aid could be turned back on if the Ukrainian side comes to the negotiating table with the president.
Zelensky publicly proposed a halt to all combat operations in the air and at sea “if Russia will do the same” — terms similar to what was proposed by European leaders over the weekend.
A partial truce, the Ukrainian president wrote, would amount to a ban on the use of “missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure,” as well as a possible prisoner exchange with Russia.
“Then,” Zelensky wrote, “we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.”
In an address to the Ukrainian people Tuesday night, Zelensky revealed he was directing his delegation to reach out to the Trump administration to get “official information” about the pause in military aid.
Zelensky also said on X Ukraine would sign the mineral deal at “any time and in any convenient format,” before once again expressing appreciation for past US support.
“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins,” he said, referring to shoulder-fired, anti-armor missiles.
“We are grateful for this.”