TRANSCRIPT
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed regret over his tense Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump.
He says he is ready to work under what he calls the US President's strong leadership, to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
"We seek constructive cooperation and true partnership. What happened at the White House instead of our planned negotiations is regrettable. But we must find the strength to move forward, respect one another — as we have always respected America, Europe, and all our partners — and work together to bring peace closer. I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine in this."
Following the US decision to pause military aid, President Zelenskyy instructed his team to seek official clarification from Washington.
"Today, many people have one question. What will happen next with US aid? I have instructed Ukraine’s minister of defence, intelligence chiefs, and diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and obtain official information. People should not have to guess. Ukraine and America deserve a respectful dialogue and a clear stance from each other, especially when it comes to protecting lives during a full-scale war."
During an address to the US Congress, President Trump revealed he'd heard from the Ukrainian President.
"Today, I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine. The letter reads, 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians' he said. 'My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence'."
Mr Trump says Mr Zelenskyy's letter also mentions Ukraine’s readiness to sign a major deal on rare-earth minerals and security.
"'Regarding the agreement on Minerals and Security Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you'. I appreciate that he sent this letter. Just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace."
Since the contentious meeting in the Oval Office, President Zelenskyy has faced significant diplomatic challenges.
In the aftermath, Mr Trump expressed his frustration with Ukraine’s unwillingness to pursue a ceasefire deal with Russia, and accused Mr Zelenskyy of prolonging the war in order to continue receiving US and European support.
Oleksiy Goncharenko is a Ukrainian Member of Parliament.
He says President Trump's order to pause military aid is catastrophic.
"It's a disaster. It was clear from Friday that we are in a very bad situation, now we're moving to catastrophic situation and this means, I just want to be absolutely clear with you. This means that thousands of people will die, people who cannot die but they will die if this decision will be placed, if it will be prolonged. I understand that we have crisis in relationships right now after Friday's meeting in the Oval Office, but I just want to ask President Trump, just to reconsider, to give some time to Ukraine."
Ukraine and its allies are concerned Mr Trump is pushing for a quick ceasefire that will favour Russia, while Ukraine's government is looking for security guarantees to ward off possible future Russian invasions.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov says the suspension of US military aid may lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
"Of course, details are yet to be learned, but if it’s true, it’s a decision that indeed could push the Kyiv regime toward a peace process. We are seeing that some European nations are saying that they will continue to provide comprehensive support so they will try to somehow compensate for the missing volumes of munitions and the rest. However, the main volumes of supplies so far have come from the US and via US channels. It is obvious that the US has been the chief supplier in this war so far. If the US suspends these supplies, it will make the best contribution to peace.”
But a military analyst says it could take up to six months for the effect of the US military aid stoppage to be felt.
Mykola Bielieskov, of the CBA Initiatives Centre, says thanks to shipments of large military aid packages in the latter months of the Biden administration, Ukraine is currently well supplied.
“Well, these suspensions that were learned through media, unfortunately no official confirmation, would have zero effect right now in the next at least three, four months to maybe even six months. Given the fact that thanks to the outgoing Biden administration and its decision to prompt shipments of major packages in November, December, even beginning of January, we have quite enough to go through in next three to four, up to six months. There is no immediate negative net effect, both for the frontline and for the rear.”
During his speech before Congress, President Trump gave no hint of whether the stoppage of aid to Ukraine would continue or end.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced an 800-billion-euro defence plan to boost the bloc's security and reduce its reliance on the United States.
