KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed that a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia remains a distant prospect. He emphasized his confidence in Ukraine’s enduring partnership with the United States, suggesting that American support would persist regardless of recent tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy remarked on the strong ties between Ukraine and the U.S., highlighting Washington’s backing throughout the three-year war period. He stressed the continuation of this partnership due to its substantial nature, rather than being a temporary relationship. Speaking at a briefing in Ukrainian in London, he was optimistic about continued aid from the United States.
Despite recent tensions during a meeting in the Oval Office where Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused him of being “disrespectful” and urged a display of greater gratitude for U.S. assistance, Zelenskyy remained positive. The situation poses challenges for Ukraine, whose military is trying hard to withstand the more formidable Russian forces.
Zelenskyy visited London to participate in a summit led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aimed at rallying European leaders for continued and potentially increased support for Ukraine amid U.S. political turbulence and Trump’s overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When questioned about a new European effort to end the Russian conflict, Zelenskyy acknowledged that they were discussing initial steps. He refrained from delving into specifics until formalized plans are developed. He reiterated that a peace agreement is far off, underscoring that any future peace must be equitable, honest, and sustainable.
In response, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for his bleak forecast about the conflict’s end, claiming it was the worst statement Zelenskyy could have made and insisted America may not tolerate it for much longer. Trump suggested that Zelenskyy seems uninterested in peace, leveraging American and European support, while Europe acknowledged their dependency on the U.S. in their recent meeting with Zelenskyy.
The White House encouraged more openness from Zelenskyy towards making concessions to end the conflict. However, Zelenskyy resisted, asking instead for security assurances from Washington during their meeting the prior Friday.
Germany’s potential leader Friedrich Merz commented on the incident, believing the Oval Office altercation wasn’t spontaneous but possibly orchestrated. Despite his surprise at the exchanged tone, Merz noted a consistent pattern in Washington’s recent stance.
Merz advocated for Germany preparing more robust security measures for the future while emphasizing the importance of maintaining transatlantic relations. He urged efforts to ensure America’s continued involvement in European matters.
