On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump announced that he received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing a willingness to restart negotiations. The letter comes after a tense meeting at the White House, where the two leaders failed to finalize a mineral deal that would have created a joint US-Ukraine fund.
During his speech to Congress, Trump shared part of Zelensky’s message. “Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine. The letter reads, ‘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 said.
The Ukrainian president also mentioned that Kyiv remains open to signing the mineral deal with the US at a time convenient for Trump. This statement marks a significant shift following their disagreement last week, which ended with no agreement and Trump deciding to pause US military aid to Ukraine on Monday.
Trump welcomed Zelensky’s letter and noted that he is also receiving signs from Russia indicating they may be open to peace discussions. This development raises hope for progress in diplomatic relations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia.
Vice President JD Vance also commented on the situation earlier Tuesday, stating that the Trump administration was waiting for more private communication from Ukraine to move negotiations forward. He hinted that US military aid could be resumed if discussions progressed in a positive direction.
Zelensky acknowledged the rocky nature of his recent meeting with Trump in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter). He expressed regret over how things unfolded and emphasized the need to rebuild trust. “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,” he wrote.
Reaffirming Ukraine’s desire for peace, Zelensky emphasized that his country does not want an ongoing war. “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.”
This exchange suggests a possible turning point in US-Ukraine relations, with a renewed focus on diplomacy and strategic agreements.
