Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said his nation will need the support of President Donald Trump, a day after he was engaged in a heated debate with him during their meeting in the White House.
Zelenskyy said that despite Friday’s fiery exchange, Ukraine and the USA remain ‘strategic partners.
He acknowledged that America’s help was vital for Ukraine to survive during the ongoing fight against Russia, which began in 2022.
“America’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,” he posted on X.
He said: “It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’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’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.”
Zelenskyy said he was ready to sign the minerals agreement with the USA but clarified that it was ‘not enough’.
He said: “We want peace. That’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’t just stop fighting and not having guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow.”
Explaining the position of his nation in the war, he said: “Europe is ready for contingencies and to help fund our large army. We also need the U.S. role in defining security guarantees—what kind, what volume, and when. Once these guarantees are in place, we can talk with Russia, Europe, and the U.S. about diplomacy. War alone is too long, and we don’t have enough weapons to push them out entirely.”
He said Ukraine wants the US to stand more firmly by its 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,” he said.
Zelenskyy began his X post by expressing his gratitude to the people of the USA when he wrote: “We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’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.”
Meeting With the Ukrainian Community
Zelenskyy visited the Ukraine House in Washington DC, and met community members.
” It is crucial for us that Ukraine’s voice continues to be heard and that no one forgets about it—both during the war and after. People in Ukraine must know that they are not alone, and that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world,” he said.
Zelenskyy In The UK
Meanwhile, after completing his visit to the USA, Zelenskyy arrived in the UK on Saturday.
While in the UK, Zelenskyy is expected to attend a summit of European leaders on Sunday to discuss support for Kyiv, reported CNN.
Fiery Friday
According to video footage of the press appearance going viral, Zelenskyy was caught in a verbal spat with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
While Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful”, Trump said he is “gambling with World War Three”.
President Zelenskyy responded in equal measure, saying, “We are in our own country, and we have stayed strong all this time. We have even thanked you for it (your support)”.
While Zelenskyy left the meeting after the heated exchange, Trump said the Ukraine president can come back to the White House “when he is ready for peace.”
(With inputs from IBNS)
