By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Volodymyr Zelensky said he is still “ready to sign” a US-Ukraine minerals deal after leaving the White House without it being agreed.
Speaking to journalists after a pivotal summit with European leaders in London on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to go forward with the agreement, which fell through following a public clash with Donald Trump on Friday.
“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. And honestly, I believe that the United States is ready as well,” Zelenskyy told a group of reporters at London Stansted airport via a translator.
“Perhaps there is a need in time to analyse certain things, but I just want the Ukrainian position to be heard. It was very important to me that the Ukrainian position is heard.”
Zelenskyy expressed confidence that relations with Trump could be salvaged and that his administration would not cut off assistance to Kyiv.
“I think our relations will continue. Because this is more than relations at a certain moment,” the Ukrainian leader said.
We must be open. Ukraine is not the biggest country in the world but everyone can see how it fights for its independence and freedom.”
“We count on assistance from the United States without a doubt,” he added.
“I think stopping such assistance will only help 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.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks came at the end of a two-day visit to the United Kingdom, during which European leaders sought to present a united front in support of Ukraine and salvage efforts to bring an end to its war with Russia.
Among these pledges is for the UK, France and other nations to form a “coalition of the willing” to defend a potential peace agreement in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated Europe “must do the heavy lifting”, but any agreement would need US backing.
Asked for his thoughts on the outcome of the summit, Zelensky said the “best security guarantees are a strong Ukrainian army”.
But he added Europe needed some form of US input, perhaps in the form of air defence and intelligence, in an apparent sign of agreement with Sir Starmer.