Ukraine is ready to enter peace negotiations "as soon as possible" to end the ongoing war with Russia, President ukraine stated, according to a statement on X. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that his country is prepared to work under "President Trump's strong leadership" to achieve a lasting peace agreement.
"Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians," Zelenskyy declared in his statement. The Ukrainian president outlined potential initial steps toward de-escalation, including prisoner releases and implementing a "truce in the sky" that would ban missiles, long-range drones, and attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure.
"My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts," he said. "We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages 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. "
According to the post, Zelenskyy also proposed an immediate "truce in the sea" as part of the early stages of a peace process, contingent on Russia agreeing to similar terms. The Ukrainian leader expressed his desire to "move very fast through all next stages" and collaborate with the US to negotiate "a strong final deal."
Zelenskyy acknowledged that his recent meeting at the White House on Friday "did not go the way it was supposed to be," calling the outcome "regrettable." However, he stated that "it is time to make things right" and expressed hope for more "constructive" communication and cooperation in the future.
The Ukrainian president specifically referenced Ukraine's readiness to sign an agreement on minerals and security "at any time and in any convenient format," viewing such an agreement as "a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees." Zelenskyy expressed optimism that such an arrangement "will work effectively."
In his statement, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine's appreciation for American support throughout the conflict, saying, "We really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence." He specifically mentioned the significance of when "President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins," describing it as "the moment when things changed."
The Ukrainian leader's comments come amid heightened speculation about the Trump administration's approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Trump, who took office on January 20, 2025, has previously indicated he would bring a different perspective to resolving the conflict that has now lasted nearly three years.
Political analysts suggest Zelenskyy's public overture demonstrates Ukraine's pragmatic shift toward working with the new US administration despite reported tensions during their initial meeting. The Ukrainian government appears to be positioning itself to maintain crucial American support while acknowledging the new political reality in Washington.
The reference to an agreement on minerals likely relates to Ukraine's significant natural resources, which could form part of a broader economic aspect of any peace framework. Ukraine possesses substantial reserves of titanium, iron ore, coal, and other valuable minerals that could be part of future economic development plans.
Zelenskyy's emphasis on immediate, practical steps like prisoner exchanges and targeted truces in specific domains represents a potential roadmap for incremental progress rather than requiring a comprehensive peace agreement as a prerequisite for any de-escalation.
As the situation develops, international observers will be closely monitoring both the Trump administration's response to Zelenskyy's statements and any corresponding signals from Moscow regarding potential openness to the specific truce proposals mentioned by the Ukrainian president.
