Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was counting on unity at home and in Europe as well as pragmatism from Washington, striking a conciliatory tone after U.S. President Donald Trump gave him a public scolding.
Trump said on Wednesday that Zelenskyy was a “dictator without elections” who should act quickly to secure peace or lose his country. It was hitherto unthinkable rhetoric from a
U.S. leader given Washington’s role as a key ally of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
The U.S. president is pushing for a quick deal to end the Ukraine war and has alarmed Washington’s European allies by leaving them and Ukraine out of initial talks with Russia and blaming Ukraine for the February 2022 invasion.
European leaders have responded by pledging to step up spending on defence and some are considering a U.S.-backed European peacekeeping force for Ukraine, a plan the Kremlin says is a major cause for concern but which Zelenskyy has welcomed.
“We are standing strong on our own two feet. I am counting on Ukrainian unity, our courage … on the unity of Europe and the pragmatism of America,” Zelenskyy told Ukrainians in his video address late on Wednesday.
“Because America needs success just as much as we do,” he added.
Zelenskyy told Ukrainians that he would be meeting visiting U.S. envoy for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg on Thursday and said it was crucial that both that meeting, and cooperation with Washington in general, were “constructive”.
Trump is seeking to reestablish ties with Russia and also invest in Ukraine’s resources of minerals critical to the energy transition. Ukraine rejected an initial U.S. plan as it did not
entail security guarantees and Zelenskyy accused Trump on Wednesday of repeating Russian disinformation about the war.
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Thursday that Ukraine should rein in its criticism of the United States and agree the minerals deal.
“They need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal,” he told Fox News.
Two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that the Trump administration may seek to strike a simplified minerals deal and later negotiate detailed terms.
With Reuters inputs
