Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a statement on X claiming he is, "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible". The statement, a response to recent comments from US President Donald Trump and members of his inner circle, shows a clear shift in tone on a ceasefire and Trump's leadership.
- Zelenskyy says "I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts," dropping calls for long-term security assurances.
- Zelenskyy proposes a framework for a ceasefire that includes "the release of prisoners and truce in the sky," if "Russia will do the same".
- The statement addresses the primary concerns raised by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and advisor Elon Musk with a more differential tone: "We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine," and adding Kyiv is "grateful" for weapons provided during the first Trump admin.
- Zelenskyy indicates he will sign the mineral sharing agreement at "any time and in any convenient format." Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said in a statement on X yesterday: “We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks," after a call with Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak.
- Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), a longtime Ukraine-backer who strongly criticised Zelenskyy’s Oval Office performance, said: “I've told President Zelenskyy: Do the minerals deal, see if we can get an arms package, and we'll talk about a good ending to the war. And that's the sequence.”
- Vance told Fox News' Sean Hannity yesterday that Trump "will be the first person to pick up the phone" when Zelenskyy is "willing to seriously talk peace…"