Ukraine’s Zelensky calls Trump clash regrettable: ‘time to make things right’

Ukrainian leader’s remarks came hours after the White House announced a pause on US military aid

Reading Time:2 minutes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:31am, 5 Mar 2025Updated: 4:37pm, 5 Mar 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that the Oval Office blow-up with US counterpart Donald Trump last week was “regrettable” adding that he stood ready to work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to get a lasting peace.

Zelensky’s remarks – an apparent attempt to placate Trump – came in a social media post on X, hours after the White House announced a pause in military aid to Ukraine that is critical to fighting Russia’s invasion.

But later during his nightly address, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine had not received direct notification from the US that aid had been cut and was seeking confirmation.

“I have instructed Ukraine’s minister of defence, the heads of our intelligence agencies and our diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and obtain official information. People should not have to guess,” he said.

“Ukraine and America deserve a respectful dialogue and a clear position from one another. Especially when it comes to protecting lives during a full-scale war,” he added, saying that military aid had been cut once before in January for a brief period.

Zelensky also said Ukraine was ready to sign a lucrative deal on rare earth minerals and security with Washington. Trump said during his address to Congress late Tuesday that he received a letter from Zelensky saying as much and that it noted Kyiv valued “how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence”.