‘President Trump’s Support Crucial’: Zelenskyy After Heated Exchange, Stresses Ukraine’s Stance On Ceasefire

<p>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the United States despite a tense meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. The Ukrainian leader took to social media, stating, “We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I&rsquo;m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and the American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion.”</p>
<p>The remarks came a day after his meeting with Trump escalated into a heated exchange, raising concerns about the trajectory of US-Ukraine relations. Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of showing “disrespect” in front of the media, marking a public diplomatic clash. The encounter, initially aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s position against Russia, instead led to heightened tensions.</p>
<p>Following the exchange, <a href=”https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1895793963925156279″>Zelenskyy took to X</a> to reaffirm Ukraine&rsquo;s need for US support:&nbsp;”America&rsquo;s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”</p>
<p>”It&rsquo;s crucial for us to have President Trump&rsquo;s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It&rsquo;s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.”</p>
<p>”As President Reagan once said, ‘Peace is not just the absence of war.’ We&rsquo;re talking about just and lasting peace&mdash;freedom, justice, and human rights for everyone. A ceasefire won&rsquo;t work with Putin. He has broken ceasefires 25 times over the last ten years. A real peace is the only solution.”</p>
<p>According to news agency Reuters, a US official confirmed that Trump’s aides asked Zelenskyy and his delegation to leave, despite their willingness to continue discussions.</p>
<p>A proposed US-Ukraine agreement on mineral development&mdash;seen as a potential step towards deeper cooperation&mdash;remained unsigned as discussions stalled. European leaders swiftly came to Zelenskyy’s defence, with German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz stating, “We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.” Zelenskyy later held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Council President Antonio Costa.</p>
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<h3><strong>Zelenskyy Says ‘Ceasefire Without Security Guarantees Is Dangerous For Ukraine'</strong></h3>
<p>Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine&rsquo;s stance on security guarantees, remarking, “We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it&rsquo;s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We&rsquo;ve been fighting for three years, and the Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.”</p>
<p>”I cannot change Ukraine&rsquo;s position on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and that&rsquo;s the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiation table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and when our partners are with us.”</p>
<p>Zelenskyy rejected the notion of an unconditional ceasefire, stressing the need for firm allied support: “We want peace. That&rsquo;s why I came to the United States and visited President Trump. The deal on minerals is just a first step toward security guarantees and getting closer to peace. Our situation is tough, but we can&rsquo;t just stop fighting without assurances that Putin won&rsquo;t return tomorrow.”</p>
<p>”It will be difficult without US support. But we can&rsquo;t lose our will, our freedom, or our people. We&rsquo;ve seen how Russians came to our homes and killed many people. Nobody wants another wave of occupation. If we cannot be accepted into NATO, we need a clear structure of security guarantees from our allies in the US.”</p>
<p>”Europe is ready for contingencies and to help fund our large army. We also need the US role in defining security guarantees&mdash;what kind, what volume, and when. Once these guarantees are in place, we can talk with Russia, Europe, and the US about diplomacy. War alone is too long, and we don&rsquo;t have enough weapons to push them out entirely.”</p>
<p>”When someone talks about losses, every single life matters. Russia invaded our homes, killed our people, and tried to erase us. This isn&rsquo;t just about territories or numbers&mdash;it&rsquo;s about real lives. That&rsquo;s what we need everyone to understand.”</p>
<p>”I want the US to stand more firmly on our side. This is not just a war between our two countries; Russia brought this war onto our territory and into our homes. They are wrong because they disrespected our territorial integrity.”</p>
<p>”All Ukrainians want to hear a strong US position on our side. It&rsquo;s understandable that the US might look for dialogue with Putin. But the US has always spoken about ‘peace through strength.’ And together we can take strong steps against Putin.”</p>
<p>In reference to Trump seeking his gratitude, the Ukrainian President remarked, “Our relationship with the American President is more than just two leaders; it&rsquo;s a historic and solid bond between our peoples. That&rsquo;s why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation. American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We&rsquo;re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”</p>
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<h3><strong>Concerns Over Future US Military Aid To Ukraine After Trump-Zelenskyy Fallout</strong></h3>
<p>The fallout from the meeting has raised concerns over future US military aid to Ukraine. Trump&rsquo;s reluctance to support Ukraine without diplomatic concessions to Russia has alarmed European allies. He reportedly warned Zelenskyy, “You&rsquo;re either going to make a deal, or we&rsquo;re out, and if we&rsquo;re out, you&rsquo;ll fight it out. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s going to be pretty.”</p>
<p>Tensions peaked when Vance advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the war, prompting Zelenskyy to challenge him. “What kind of diplomacy are you talking about, JD?” he asked, highlighting past failed negotiations with Russia. Vance responded, “I&rsquo;m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.” Trump also pressed Zelenskyy to shift his stance, stating, “You&rsquo;re not in a good position. You don&rsquo;t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.” Zelenskyy countered, “I&rsquo;m not playing cards, I&rsquo;m very serious, Mr. President,” to which Trump replied, “You&rsquo;re playing cards. You&rsquo;re gambling with the lives of millions of people, you&rsquo;re gambling with World War Three.”</p>
<p>Trump, in a post on Truth Social, wrote, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved. He can come back when he is ready for peace.” Speaking to reporters, he added, “What he&rsquo;s got to say is, ‘I want to make peace.’ He doesn&rsquo;t have to stand there and say ‘Putin this, Putin that,’ all negative things. He&rsquo;s got to say, ‘I want to make peace.'”</p>
<p>The meeting underscored a stark shift in US policy towards Ukraine under Trump&rsquo;s leadership, as he seeks to end US involvement in the war quickly and reallocate resources elsewhere. “I hope I&rsquo;m going to be remembered as a peacemaker,” Trump remarked at the Oval Office meeting.</p>