A heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday has fueled speculation about a potential shift in Ukraine’s stance on negotiations with Russia.
However, Trump assured that Zelensky is now ready to engage in peace talks, while also seeking to finalize an agreement with Washington on Ukraine’s mineral resources.
“I received an important letter from Ukrainian President Zelensky,” Trump declared during his first major speech before Congress on Tuesday evening. The letter says that Ukraine is ready to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible in order to bring a lasting peace closer.
The White House has hinted at a conditional restoration of U.S. aid to Kyiv, linking it to the progress of peace negotiations. National security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News that Trump would consider restoring U.S. aid to Kyiv if peace talks were settled and confidence-building measures were implemented.
With tensions running high, the future of U.S. support for Ukraine now seems to hinge on whether negotiations with Russia can materialize and lead to a sustainable peace agreement.
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
