Zelenskyy Regrets White House Blowup with Trump, Says Ready To Work For Peace- wna24

New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said he was ready to work under Trump’s strong leadership to get lasting peace, as he appeared taking a step back on his rigid stand of not wanting a ceasefire, especially a week after the heated public exchange with U.S. President in the Oval Office.

This comes hours after Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine, leaving Zelenskyy scrambling to undo the damage. Zelenskyy expressed “regret” over the White House meeting and emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to come to the negotiating table. 

Also Read: US Halts Military Aid to Ukraine Amid Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Clash

“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,” he wrote. “It is time to make things right.”  

Just days ago, Zelenskyy seemed unwavering in his stance, unable to hold back his frustration during discussions with Trump. 

But with U.S. military support now in jeopardy, his tone has noticeably softened. The timing suggests a realisation that confronting Trump head-on was a costly mistake.  

Also Read: US Halts Military Aid to Ukraine Amid Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Clash

Zelenskyy was in Washington to sign a minerals deal with the US, but the meeting quickly soured when he requested a security guarantee from the Trump administration in the event of a future Russian invasion. Trump’s refusal to commit to such a guarantee seemed to deepen the rift between the two leaders, leaving the future of US support for Ukraine uncertain.

The situation took a dramatic turn after the Oval Office encounter, with Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, publicly rebuking Zelenskyy. Vance criticized the Ukrainian president for being “ungrateful” for the support, while Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War 3” in his handling of the war.

In a related incident, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to lash out at Zelenskyy’s recent remarks about the likelihood of a peace deal with Russia. While speaking to reporters in London, Zelenskyy stated that a deal to end the war remains “very, very far away,” expressing his belief that Ukraine must continue the fight. He also suggested that Ukraine’s relationship with the US would ensure continued support, despite the strained ties.

Trump, however, sharply criticized Zelenskyy’s statement, writing on Truth Social, “This is the worst statement that Zelenskyy could have made, and America will not put up with it for much longer.” He implied that Zelenskyy was not genuinely seeking peace, as long as Ukraine continued to receive American assistance.

In January, the Trump administration had already paused foreign aid grants for 90 days, except funds allocated to Israel and Egypt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo at the time, emphasizing that no new foreign aid would be allocated without thorough review and approval. Despite this, military aid to Ukraine continued until now.