By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to work under U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s “strong leadership” on peace talks with Russia and wants a minerals and security agreement with the United States.
His announcement, welcomed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, came just days after the unprecedented public spat between him and U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
“Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelenskyy said in remarks on social media platform X.
In the remarks monitored by Worthy News, he added that “the first stages” toward peace “could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky – ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure – and truce in the sea immediately if Russia will do the same.”
His words suggested at least a partial ceasefire. Zelenskyy did not mention whether the truce would extend to the front lines where trench-by-trench fighting resembles the horrors of World War One.
However, he pledged that soon after the truce, he mentioned, “We want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal” with Russia.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukrainians long for peace after a three-year war that broke out when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
THANKING AMERICA
“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence,” he wrote. “And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this,” he said, referring to the U.S.-made anti-tank system in service since 1996.
The president admitted that “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.”
However, he stressed that “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
His words were music to the ears of JD Vance, who openly told Zelenskyy to show more respect to his boss, Donald J. Trump, and the United States.
Vance said Tuesday that the Trump administration would restart aid to Ukraine and formalize a framework mineral rights deal if Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and his team talk “privately” with the US about negotiating a peace accord. President Trump “wants the Ukrainians to come to the negotiating table,” Vance told reporters at the Capitol ahead of Trump’s address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
“I think the president is still committed to the mineral deal. I think we’ve heard some positive things, but not yet, of course, a signature from our friends in Ukraine,” Vance added, calling the agreement “important” to Trump.
Although no security guarantees are attached to the multi-billion dollar deal, the White House believes the minerals agreement would give Ukraine more security, as Americans will be involved in the search for rare earths.
The U.S. also views access to its rare earth reserves as a way to counter China’s dominance in the global supply chain.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Sunday reaffirmed the terrorist group’s refusal to disarm, rejecting demands from U.S. President Donald Trump and vowing to continue the fight against Israel.
The U.S. government added $696 billion to the national debt over the past four months, borrowing $94 billion in the month of January alone, the Congressional Budget Office reports.
Anti-ICE protests continued in Minneapolis over the weekend, resulting in dozens of arrests by local law enforcement.
Authorities across North Africa and southern Europe remained on high alert Monday after powerful storms killed numerous people and forced the evacuation of more than 160,000 residents.
Ukraine’s foreign minister has warned that intensified Russian attacks on his country’s energy infrastructure are creating a direct risk of a nuclear incident that could affect all of Europe.
Official results confirmed Monday that Socialist Party candidate António José Seguro won Portugal’s presidential election with 66.7 percent of the vote, defeating André Ventura of the right-wing nationalist Chega (“Enough”) party.
Despite what advocates describe as decades of persecution, discrimination, and insecurity, Pakistan’s Christians remain steadfast in their faith and committed to peaceful coexistence, a leading Christian rights advocate said Friday.