Volodymyr Zelensky proposes truce in Ukraine to start peace talks .
The decision comes after Donald Trump's gun ban following the furious row at the White House in recent days .
The Ukrainian president wants to "fix things" with his US counterpart.
“ Our meeting at the White House did not go as it should have ,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It is regrettable that it went this way and it is time to put things right . We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
He added: "My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to achieve lasting peace."
“None of us wants an endless war, Ukraine is ready to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible,” Zelensky wrote, outlining the next steps. “ The first steps could be the release of prisoners, a truce in the air – a ban on missiles, long-range drones, bombs on energy networks and other civilian infrastructure – and a truce at sea immediately, if Russia does the same . So we want to move very quickly through all the next steps and work with the United States to reach a solid final agreement.”
There is no shortage of those thanks solicited by Vance and Trump in the Oval Office: "We really appreciate what America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed, when President Trump provided Ukraine with missiles. We are grateful for that ."
Finally, the agreement on rare earths : " Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step towards solid security guarantees, and I really hope that it will work effectively."
The Kremlin has assessed how
Moscow, with a telegraphic statement from the Kremlin spokesman, judges Zelensky's opening as "good and positive".
Zelensky had a conversation today with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the statement in which he essentially bowed his head to Trump , a Downing Street spokesman reported, after London had repeatedly insisted on the need to put things right between him and the US president after Friday's clash and the halt to American military aid to Kiev.
«Stop weapons? Clarifications requested»
In his evening speech, Zelensky said he had asked Ukrainian officials to contact their US counterparts to get official information about the aid blockade . "I have instructed the defense minister, our intelligence chiefs and diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and get official information. People should not be forced to guess. Ukraine and America deserve respectful dialogue and a clear position towards each other. Especially when it comes to protecting human lives during a war."
(Unioneonline/L)