U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, indicating Ukraine’s readiness to engage in peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In an address to Congress, Trump quoted the letter: “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 mentioned his “serious discussions with Russia” and the “strong signals” he had received regarding their readiness for peace.
“Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” he said. “It’s time to stop this madness. It’s time to halt the killing. It’s time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.”
During his speech, Trump was expected to elaborate on his strategy for Ukraine and Russia but did not disclose additional plans to resolve what has become Europe’s most significant conflict since World War Two.
Trump disclosed that Ukraine is prepared to sign a minerals agreement with the U.S., a move Washington considers vital for sustaining American support for Ukrainian defense.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration and Ukraine intend to finalize the deal in exchange for military aid, which Trump has temporarily withheld.
However, later that day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Fox News, “No signing is scheduled,” according to a post by a Fox reporter on X.
Trump provided no further details about the minerals deal, leaving its status uncertain.
On Tuesday morning, Zelenskiy committed to mending U.S. relations after what he termed a “regrettable” incident in the Oval Office with Trump the previous week.
Zelenskiy expressed his willingness to “rectify the situation” and stated his readiness “at any time and in any format” to sign the minerals deal left pending after his visit to Washington, following the Oval Office dispute.
This announcement followed Trump’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine, his latest action disrupting U.S. policy and signaling a shift toward a more accommodating approach to Russia.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to achieve a lasting peace,” Zelenskiy declared on X, making no reference to the halted U.S. military support.
Zelenskiy’s remarks emphasized Kyiv’s appreciation following the contentious White House meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized him for being insufficiently grateful.
“We truly value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence,” Zelenskiy wrote. “Our meeting in Washington did not go as expected. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right.”
Zelenskiy proposed a roadmap for peace, beginning with the release of prisoners and cessation of air and sea attacks, conditional on Russia’s reciprocation.
“Our goal is to rapidly progress through all subsequent phases and collaborate with the U.S. to secure a robust final agreement,” he added.
Geopolitical Shift
Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that although Ukrainian forces can hold their ground against the Russian military, Kyiv will strive to maintain cooperation with the U.S.
“We will continue to work with the U.S. through all available channels in a calm manner,” Shmyhal said. “Our only plan is to win and survive.”
In Moscow, the Kremlin regarded the cessation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as the optimal step toward peace, though it awaited confirmation of Trump’s decision.
U.S. Democrats have vehemently protested Trump’s sudden pivot toward Russia, marking a significant geopolitical realignment for Washington.
This shift represents the most substantial change in U.S. foreign policy toward Moscow since the 1940s, challenging the longstanding bipartisan focus on defending Europe from Russian aggression.
