World
Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Watch
Listen
Live TV
Subscribe
Sign in
World Europe
Zelensky describes Oval Office meeting as ‘regrettable,’ says he is ready to
negotiate peace
Nick Paton Walsh Rob Picheta Lauren Kent
By Nick Paton Walsh, Rob Picheta and Lauren Kent, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 11:55 AM EST, Tue March 4, 2025
Trump berated Zelensky during a remarkable Oval Office argument on Friday.
Trump berated Zelensky during a remarkable Oval Office argument on Friday. Saul
Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Kyiv, Ukraine
CNN
—
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his Oval Office meeting last week
with US President Donald Trump “did not go the way it was supposed to,” describing
the fiery meeting as “regrettable” and noting that Ukraine is ready to negotiate
about an end to the conflict.
“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace,” Zelensky said on X,
addressing his remarkable sit-down with Trump directly. Trump and Vice President JD
Vance berated Zelensky during the meeting, angrily accusing him of “gambling with
World War Three” and telling him: “Your country is in big trouble.”
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was
supposed to be,” Zelensky wrote in Tuesday’s X post. “It is regrettable that it
happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future
cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes part in a plenary during the Securing
our Future Summit on Ukraine and European security at Lancaster House in London,
Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Related card
How Ukraine is responding to the pause in US aid
“None of us wants an endless war,” he added. “Ukraine is ready to come to the
negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants
peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President
Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
Western leaders will hope the statement goes some way towards smoothing Kyiv’s
relations with the White House, but the disastrous Oval Office meeting underlined
how strained that relationship has become.
Zelensky also said in his Tuesday statement that Ukraine is ready to sign a
minerals deal, which was meant to be signed on Friday until the argument led to
Zelensky being told to leave the White House.
“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in
any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward
greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work
effectively,” he said.
And he made a rare direct intervention on how a possible ceasefire might work. “We
are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of
prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on
energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if
Russia will do the same,” Zelensky said. “Then we want to move very fast through
all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.”
That framework is similar to the plan proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron
after Sunday’s summit of Western leaders, which took place in London amid anxiety
on the continent about Ukraine’s future.
“We do really value how much 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 Javelins. We are grateful for this,” Zelensky
added.
It remains to be seen how Trump will respond to the Ukrainian leader’s proposals or
his reflections on the White House visit. But the lengthy statement suggests an
effort by Kyiv to force its voice into discussions on the conflict’s future, after
the Trump administration opened talks with Russia last month and refused to invite
Ukraine.
Trump on Monday ordered a pause on shipments of US military aid to Ukraine, which
could have a dire effect on the country’s war-fighting abilities. The halt in aid,
which came after Trump held a series of meetings with top national security
officials, will remain in place until Trump determines Zelensky has made a
commitment to seeking peace talks, one official said – essentially forcing Ukraine
to a negotiating table by threatening further losses on the battlefield.
More from CNN
Zelensky says Trump’s backing is ‘crucial’ after US president ...
White House amplifies rave reviews for Trump’s handling of ...
Zelensky invades Trump’s ‘disinformation space’ — and it ...
News & buzz
China and Canada immediately retaliate against Trump’s tariffs. ...
What will cost Americans more from sweeping tariffs on Mexico, ...
‘It was messy’: Federal workers ordered to return to offices without ...
Search CNN...
US
Crime + Justice
World
Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Middle East
United Kingdom
Politics
SCOTUS
Congress
Facts First
2024 Elections
Business
Tech
Media
Calculators
Videos
Markets
Pre-markets
After-Hours
Fear & Greed
Investing
Markets Now
Nightcap
Health
Life, But Better
Fitness
Food
Sleep
Mindfulness
Relationships
Entertainment
Movies
Television
Celebrity
Tech
Innovate
Foreseeable Future
Mission: Ahead
Work Transformed
Innovative Cities
Style
Arts
Design
Fashion
Architecture
Luxury
Beauty
Video
Travel
Destinations
Food & Drink
Stay
News
Videos
Sports
Pro Football
College Football
Basketball
Baseball
Soccer
Olympics
Hockey
Science
Space
Life
Unearthed
Climate
Solutions
Weather
Weather
Video
Climate
Ukraine-Russia War
Israel-Hamas War
Watch
Live TV
CNN Headlines
CNN Shorts
Shows A-Z
CNN10
CNN Max
CNN TV Schedules
FlashDocs
Listen
CNN 5 Things
Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
The Assignment with Audie Cornish
One Thing
Tug of War
CNN Political Briefing
The Axe Files
All There Is with Anderson Cooper
All CNN Audio podcasts
CNN Underscored
Electronics
Fashion
Beauty
Health & Fitness
Home
Reviews
Deals
Gifts
Travel
Outdoors
Pets
Games
CNN Crossword
Jumble Crossword
Photo Shuffle
Sudoblock
Sudoku
5 Things Quiz
About CNN
Subscribe
Photos
Investigations
CNN Profiles
CNN Leadership
CNN Newsletters
Work for CNN
World
Watch
Listen
Live TV
Follow CNN
Subscribe
Sign in
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Cookie Settings
Ad Choices
Accessibility & CC
About
Subscribe
Newsletters
Transcripts
Help Center
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
