FILE-President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday in a post on X that he’s ready to work toward peace, while addressing the Oval Office incident between him and President Donald Trump last week.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to sign a deal on rare-earth minerals and security with the U.S. The Ukrainian leader’s sentiments came hours after the Trump administration announced it was paying military aid to Ukraine, significant to the country’s ongoing war with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s commitment to peace
What they’re saying: "I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace. None of us wants an endless war. 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 Tuesday in a post on X.
RELATED: Trump pauses aid to Ukraine after Oval Office clash with Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy also addressed last week’s Oval Office meeting with Trump saying it, "did not go the way it was supposed to be. "It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive."
Trump pauses aid to Ukraine
Local perspective: President Donald Trump directed a "pause" to any U.S. aid to Ukraine on Monday after clashing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week in the Oval Office.
RELATED: What's next after Trump-Zelenskyy blowup?
A White House official told the Associated Press that Trump wants to reach a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, and wants Zelenskyy "committed" to that goal. The official added to the AP that the U.S. was "pausing and reviewing" its aid to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution." The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
Trump and Zelenskyy clash in Oval Office
The backstory: The Trump administration and Ukrainian officials were expected to sign off on a deal during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit last week that would have given the U.S. access to Ukraine's critical minerals. The White House has also lauded such a pact to strengthen long-term relations between the U.S. and Ukraine.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by an X post from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting, and the Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.