Amid wartime rift, Zelenskyy says Kyiv offering feasible accord to US

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Ukraine was ready to work quickly and tirelessly to produce a strong and useful agreement on investments and security with the United States.

“We must and can ensure that peace is strong and lasting—so that Russia can never return with war,” Zelenskiy wrote on X after meeting US envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg.

“Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States. We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results. Our team is ready to work 24/7.”

Zelenskyy had earlier struck a conciliatory tone after accusing Trump of repeating Russian disinformation in response to the Trump’s accusation that Ukraine had started the three-year-old war with Russia. Trump went on to refer to Zelenskyy as a “dictator”.

His V-P, JD Vance, said on Thursday he believed that an end to the conflict was near and there was no stopping the war without speaking to Russia.

Trump is seeking to reestablish ties with Russia and also invest in Ukraine’s resources of minerals critical to the energy transition. Ukraine rejected an initial US plan as it did not include security guarantees.

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Thursday that Ukraine should rein in its criticism of the United States and agree to the minerals deal.

“They need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal,” he told Fox News.

European leaders quickly threw their support behind Zelenskyy. Germany and the UK said it was “wrong and dangerous” to deny Zelenskyy's democratic legitimacy.