Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to proceed with a minerals agreement with the United States, despite a recent public confrontation with former US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to journalists at London Stansted Airport following a key summit with European leaders, Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv was prepared to sign the deal, which was derailed after a heated exchange with Trump last week.
"It is our policy to continue despite what happened in the past. We are constructive. If we agreed upon signing it, we were ready to sign it," he told reporters via a translator. "Honestly, I believe that the United States is ready as well."
Zelenskyy also voiced confidence that diplomatic ties with Trump could be salvaged, dismissing concerns that Washington would halt its assistance to Kyiv.
"I think our relations will continue because this is more than relations at a certain moment," he said. "We count on assistance from the United States without a doubt."
He cautioned that suspending US support would only benefit Russia, saying, "I think stopping such assistance will only help [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And because of that, I think the United States and representatives of the civilised world, leaders of this world definitely won’t help Putin."
Tensions over minerals deal
The minerals deal was set to be finalised last week but fell apart during a tense televised meeting at the White House. Zelenskyy had challenged US Vice President JD Vance’s call for renewed diplomacy, arguing that Ukraine could not afford to compromise its sovereignty.
In response, Trump and Vance rebuked the Ukrainian leader, accusing him of lacking gratitude for US support and overestimating his leverage. Following the exchange, Trump cancelled the rest of Zelenskyy’s engagements in Washington, including the signing ceremony for the minerals deal.
Trump later stated that Zelenskyy could return "when he is ready for peace." Several Republican lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, suggested that the Ukrainian president should resign if he was unable to negotiate with Trump.
NATO membership offer
Zelenskyy, however, dismissed the calls for his resignation as "undemocratic." He added that he would only consider stepping down if Ukraine were granted membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
His remarks came as European leaders gathered in London in an effort to present a united front in support of Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the UK and France would assemble a "coalition of the willing" to devise a new peace proposal to present to Trump.
"We are at a crossroads in history today," Starmer said at the summit. "This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act, time to step up and lead, and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace."
