Trump says Ukraine ready for peace deal with Russia

PTI

New York/Washington

US President Donald Trump said he has received “strong signals” from Russia that it is ready for peace and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has written to him saying his country is ready to come to the negotiating table and also sign an agreement on minerals and security.

Trump made these remarks on Tuesday night in an address to the joint session of Congress, the first of his second term in the White House.

“I’m also working tirelessly to end the savage conflict in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict with no end in sight,” Trump said.

He told Congress that on Tuesday, he received an “important letter” from Zelenskyy, in which he said that “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy wrote in the letter, Trump said.

Trump said that Zelenskyy went on to write in the letter that his team and him “stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine, maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.”

Trump said he appreciates the letter and added that “simultaneously we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and I’ve received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” he said amid applause.

“… It’s time to stop this madness. It’s time to halt the killing. It’s time to end the senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” Trump said.

In a post on X, hours before Trump’s address to Congress, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is “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. Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.”

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine really does 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.”