Zelenskyy Ready to Renew Talks With Trump

LONDON, SUNDAY – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to mend relations with United States President Donald Trump. This statement emerged after he met with European leaders in London, England, on Sunday (3/2/2025). Previously, Trump and Zelenskyy had a heated exchange during a meeting at the White House last Friday. However, Zelenskyy insisted that any meeting with President Trump must be held privately.

Zelenskyy once again emphasized that Ukraine will not surrender its territory to Russia as part of a peace agreement. However, Ukraine is still willing to reach an agreement with the US regarding the mining of rare earth minerals.

He will also send a peace draft resulting from a meeting with European leaders on Sunday to the US as an update.

As broadcasted by the media on Friday (28/2/2025) from the Oval Office, White House, Trump accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for the abundant U.S. aid and of posing a risk of triggering World War III. Trump's stance has raised doubts about the continuation of U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Zelenskyy spoke to reporters at London Airport after meeting European leaders on Sunday. He appeared enthusiastic and expressed his gratitude to European countries for their support. The Ukrainian President is striving to maintain relations with the US despite tensions during last week's meeting.

However, he continued, negotiations conducted openly in front of the mass media are not an appropriate action. It will not bring anything positive to Ukraine–US relations.

The former comedy star in Ukraine predicted that the US would not cease its assistance to Ukraine and, conversely, would not support Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Zelenskyy stated that he is prepared to face any possibilities arising from actions taken by the US under President Trump.

“For the sake of maintaining and improving relations. Ukraine-US relations will continue,” Zelenskyy said, speaking to reporters through an interpreter.

In his view, conducting negotiations openly in front of the mass media is not the right course of action. It will not bring any positive outcomes to Ukraine–US relations.

Zelenskyy, who appeared shaken after the meeting at the White House, arrived last Saturday in London, England. He was warmly welcomed by the Prime Minister of England, Keir Starmer, and by the support of citizens present near Downing Street (the office of the British Prime Minister).

After summit talks in London on Sunday, PM Starmer said European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan involving the US in the hope that US security guarantees would make Russia consider the proposal seriously.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukraine depends on the US as a major military ally and cutting off arms aid would only benefit Putin. "The US is the leader of the civilized world. They should not take steps that will help Putin," Zelenskyy said.

A Russian parliament figure (Duma) Konstantin Kosachev, Sunday, dismissed the Western European version of the peace plan. "If Ukraine wants to hope for peace, it depends on the results of the Russia-United States meeting and negotiations," Kosachev said on his Telegram account.

Ready to Sign Mining Contract

Chaotic talks at the White House last week resulted in the US and Ukraine failing to sign a multibillion-dollar rare earth mining deal that Ukraine had hoped would solidify US support for them.

In the development, Zelenskyy said that his party still wants to reach an agreement on rare earth minerals. "We agreed to sign and are ready for it. Honestly, I believe, the US is also ready to reach an agreement," Zelenskyy said.

President Trump has pushed a rare earth deal as a key part of his relationship with Ukraine, which has reserves of lithium and rare earths as payment for U.S. arms and other aid during the war.

Zelenskyy sought to avoid further friction with the US and focused on Ukraine-Russia ceasefire efforts. “All parties must understand that Ukraine will not recognize Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory,” Zelenskyy said.

In reality on the ground, Russian troops occupy around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, especially in the east, which is largely occupied by ethnic Russians, such as in Luhansk and Donetsk.

"We hope that the security guarantees given will 100 percent confirm that it is impossible for Russia to repeat its aggression in the future," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that there had been communication with Washington DC since Friday's incident, although not at the level of the presidents. Asked by reporters about the possibility of resigning - as urged by some Republicans in the US - Zelenskyy said he would not step down.

Zelenskyy said that if he resigns but Ukraine is accepted into NATO, he will have achieved his goal.

"Regarding the pressure to resign, I will not be replaced by anyone. It is not easy to hold elections in the current conditions. Moreover, if you prohibit me from participating in the elections, it will certainly make the situation more difficult," Zelenskyy said.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said what happened in the Oval Office between Trump and Zelenskyy was an act of indifference on Zelenskyy's part and there was no need to deal with him anymore.

Lindsey Graham and Mike Johnson have commented on Zelenskyy's resignation following his spat with President Trump.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump's actions were a step to put the United States first.

Zelenskyy said that if he resigns but Ukraine becomes a NATO member, he has achieved his goal. "I am willing to resign if that happens," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Sky News on Sunday (2/3/2025).

Ukraine's bid to become a NATO member is one of Russia's objections to having a Western bloc country right on Russia's border that is seen as a security threat. (Reuters/AP)