Zelenskyy Announce Ukraine-US Talks After Trump Clash: ‘Committed to Peace’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a new meeting with U.S. officials next week, signaling a fresh push for peace amid strained relations with President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Special European Council on Thursday, Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine is not only ready to take steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are.” He expressed hope for a “meaningful” dialogue, a move that follows Trump’s decision to pause military aid to Ukraine.
The announcement comes just days after a tense Oval Office meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude for the $180 billion in U.S. aid provided since Russia’s 2022 invasion. A White House official, speaking anonymously, said Trump wants Zelenskyy fully committed to peace talks with Russia. The aid pause, they added, is a way to “review” whether U.S. support aligns with that goal. The halt will stay in place until Trump sees clear steps toward negotiations.
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Zelenskyy took to X to thank Europe for its support and confirm that Ukrainian and American teams are back at work. “We hope next week’s meeting will bring us closer to peace,” he wrote. This follows a rocky moment in U.S.-Ukraine ties, sparked by Trump’s frustration with Zelenskyy’s stance that ending the war remains “very far away.”
Trump, who promised during his 2024 campaign to end the Ukraine conflict quickly, has long praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. He believes Putin can be trusted to honor a truce. However, the aid pause echoes a past controversy—five years ago, Trump withheld Ukraine aid to pressure Zelenskyy into investigating Joe Biden, leading to his first impeachment.
For Ukraine, the stakes are high. The paused aid threatens its defense against Russia, which still controls about 20% of its land. Zelenskyy’s latest outreach shows his readiness to mend ties with Trump and work toward a resolution, even as he balances calls for peace with the need for security guarantees.
