Ukraine ready to sit at negotiating table as soon as possible – Zelenskyy
Ukraine is ready to "work fast" to end the war, proposing a release of prisoners, a ceasefire in the skies, and a ban on attacking civilian infrastructure as a start, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
"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," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the first steps could be:
- release of prisoners;
- an immediate truce in the skies: a ban on missiles, long-range drones, and bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure;
- immediate truce at sea.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is ready to do this if Russia does the same.
The head of state also confirmed that he and his team are ready to "work under the strong leadership" of US President Donald Trump "to get a peace that lasts."
"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. We are grateful for this," the Ukrainian president noted.
Zelenskyy admitted that the White House meeting on February 28 “did not go the way it was supposed to be” and suggested that it is “time to make things right.”
"We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive," said the head of state.
In addition, he emphasized that Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement on minerals at "any time and in any convenient format."
"We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively," Zelenskyy explained.
Background
On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Ukraine and the US were expected to sign a minerals agreement.
However, at some point during the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, a dispute arose regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war.
The Ukrainian president left the White House early, and the mineral deal was not signed. After that, Trump wrote that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace,” but added that he “could come back” if he changed his mind.
Trump later criticized Zelenskyy for saying that a ceasefire with Russia was still “is still very, very far away,” calling it “the worst statement” the Ukrainian president could make.
On March 4, Bloomberg and CNN, citing unnamed officials from the US Department of Defense and the White House, reported that the US president had suspended all US aid to Ukraine, including aid ordered by his predecessor Joe Biden. However, there was no official announcement from the White House about this decision.
Meanwhile, a summit of European leaders on the war in Ukraine was held in London, convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The head of the British government expressed his belief that US President Donald Trump's desire to achieve peace in Ukraine is sincere, and therefore called "not to doubt this for a moment."
Starmer also reported that his country and France would work with Ukraine on a peace plan, which would then be presented to Washington.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the plan would involve a limited “ceasefire in the air, on the seas and in energy infrastructure” for a month. However, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said London had not agreed to the proposal.