Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that his country is ready to negotiate peace under US President Donald Trump’s leadership, following Washington’s decision to pause all military aid to Kyiv.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky said:
“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.”
Trump Halts Military Aid Amid Tensions With Zelensky
The statement follows a major shift in US policy, with Trump announcing on Monday that he would pause all military assistance to Ukraine.
The move comes after tense exchanges between Zelensky, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance in Washington last week, during which the Ukrainian leader was accused of showing insufficient gratitude for US support.
“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a senior US official said.
Zelensky Proposes First Steps for Peace Talks
Despite the growing tensions, Zelensky outlined specific steps that Ukraine is willing to take for peace:
“We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and a truce in the sky — banning missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy, and other civilian infrastructure — and a truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same.”
He added that Ukraine wants to move quickly toward a final peace agreement, working closely with Washington.
Zelensky Regrets Oval Office Confrontation
Referring to last week’s Oval Office confrontation, Zelensky admitted the meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to be”, calling for a reset in relations between Kyiv and Washington.
“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.”
Zelensky also addressed the stalled mineral-rights and security agreement between Ukraine and the US, expressing willingness to sign the deal anytime.
“We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”
Ukraine Says It Can Hold Its Own Without US Support
Despite the US aid freeze, Ukrainian officials insisted that their military remains capable of defending the country.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv has the resources to maintain its frontline defenses, stating:
“Our military and the government have the capabilities, the tools, let’s say, to maintain the situation on the frontline.”
However, he acknowledged the importance of US and European support, emphasizing that Ukraine seeks “mutually beneficial cooperation” with Washington.
“We will continue to work with the US through all available channels in a calm manner,” Shmyhal said. “We only have one plan – to win and to survive. Either we win, or the plan B will be written by someone else.”
Kremlin Welcomes US Decision to Cut Aid
Meanwhile, Russia responded positively to Trump’s decision, with the Kremlin calling the halt in US military aid “the best possible step towards peace”. However, Moscow stated that it was still waiting for official confirmation of Washington’s policy shift.
Ukraine has relied heavily on US and European military aid to hold back Russia’s larger, better-equipped forces over the past three years, with the war causing hundreds of thousands of casualties and widespread destruction.
Impact of US Aid Freeze on Ukraine’s Military
While some military experts believe Ukraine is less dependent on US aid than before, others warn of potential long-term consequences.
“It’s pretty significant, but not nearly as impactful as it would have been earlier in the war because Ukraine is far less dependent on direct US military assistance now,” said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment.
During a similar funding delay last year, Ukraine experienced shortages in air defense systems and later faced ammunition shortages on the battlefield.
Europe Under Pressure to Fill the Gap
With Trump halting US aid, pressure is mounting on European allies to increase their support for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both pledged to strengthen European security commitments, following their meetings at the White House last week.
On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a new plan to boost EU defense spending, which could mobilize up to €800 billion. The EU is set to hold an emergency summit on Thursday to discuss further support for Ukraine.
However, France sharply criticized Trump’s decision to pause military aid, warning that it strengthens Russia’s position.
“This makes peace more distant because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor, which is Russia,” said French Junior Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad.
As Ukraine navigates this critical turning point, the world watches closely to see whether Trump’s push for peace talks will bring an end to the war—or further complicate Kyiv’s ability to defend itself.
