Zelensky: Clash with Trump regrettable | Ukraine ready to negotiate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he regrets the clash he had with United States President Donald Trump.

Zelensky said his administration is ready to work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to get lasting peace in the three-year-old war with Russia.

Last week’s meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump assumed office, ended in a shouting bout.

Trump and JD Vance, the US vice-president, accused the Ukrainian leader of not being grateful enough for American support in the war between his country and Russia. But Zelensky argued that the conflict was beyond their grasp.

Zelensky was ordered to leave the White House abruptly, and his press conference was cancelled.

A few days later, Trump was reported to have paused Washington’s military aid to Ukraine.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Zelensky said the meeting did not go the way it was supposed to.

“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 said.

“We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky—ban on 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.

“Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.”

Zelensky also said Ukraine is ready to sign the minerals deal “any time and in any convenient format” as a step toward solid security guarantees.