Shorouk Express
He stressed that a cease-fire alone would be insufficient, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin has violated truce agreements “25 times” in the past decade.
“It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support,” the Ukrainian leader said. “He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do,” he said.
“We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees,” Zelenskyy wrote. “But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that,” he said.
“A cease-fire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “We’ve been fighting for three years, and the Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.”
Ukraine’s supporters reacted with consternation to the verbal attack on the Ukrainian leader, calling it a dismaying display of American bullying. Trump, a former star of reality TV show “The Apprentice,” ended the meeting by saying: “All right, I think we’ve seen enough. … This is going to be great television ― I will say that.”
European leaders rallied to defend Zelenskyy immediately after the tirade of abuse in the Oval Office, with France, Germany and Poland among others making prompt declarations of support amid European fears over Trump’s alignment with Putin.
Zelenskyy will meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Saturday afternoon, British media reported. Starmer is hosting the Sunday summit with European leaders to discuss security assurances for Ukraine.
European leaders have already closed ranks behind Zelenskyy following the stormy Oval Office meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s almost-certain next chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed their backing for Kyiv in defiant statements following the Washington encounter.
