Zelensky Offers Terms to Stop Fighting, Assuring U.S. That Ukraine Wants Peace

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a plan he claimed could bring an end to the war, while simultaneously attempting to reassure the Trump administration of his government’s commitment to peace.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not unfold as expected,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It is unfortunate that things happened this way. Now, it is time to set things right.”

He was referring to last week’s tense encounter at the White House, where President Trump criticized him sharply and accused him of being ungrateful. Following this, on Monday, Trump announced a halt to all U.S. military aid to Ukraine.

In response, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was prepared to release Russian prisoners of war, cease long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian targets, and immediately declare a truce at sea—measures he described as steps toward peace.

However, he emphasized that these actions would only be taken “if Russia does the same.”

Zelensky’s proposal was clearly aimed at shifting the responsibility for ending the war onto Russia, the aggressor that launched the invasion three years ago. Meanwhile, the White House has asserted that Zelensky himself is a major roadblock to peace.

In his post, Zelensky expressed deep appreciation for American support, particularly highlighting the moment when “things changed” after President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelin missiles.

“We are grateful for this,” he wrote. “Ukraine is ready to engage in negotiations as soon as possible to move closer to lasting peace,” he continued. “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to achieve a peace that endures.”

There was no immediate response from the Kremlin regarding Zelensky’s proposal. Despite the ongoing intensity of the conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin has, at times, demonstrated a willingness to make separate deals with Ukraine. The two nations have conducted multiple prisoner-of-war exchanges, and in August, both were set to hold talks in Qatar regarding halting attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. However, Russia withdrew from the discussions after Ukraine carried out an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

Recently, however, Putin has shown no indication of backing down unless he secures major concessions from the West and Ukraine. His demands include Ukraine forgoing NATO membership, scaling back NATO’s presence in Europe, reducing the size of Ukraine’s military, and granting Russia influence over Ukraine’s domestic affairs.

On Tuesday, an emergency session of Ukraine’s Parliament was convened to evaluate the consequences of the Trump administration’s latest decision. Meanwhile, soldiers on the front lines awoke to the sobering reality that an already grueling war could become even tougher.

While Zelensky did not directly address the suspension of aid, he assembled top civilian and military officials to discuss pressing issues related to Ukraine’s national resilience.

In both government corridors and the streets of Ukraine, the U.S. decision to pause aid was met with feelings of betrayal. Many Ukrainians shared clips of past speeches from former American presidents who had pledged unwavering support for Ukraine, including commitments made under the Clinton administration in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear arsenal.

Yet, beyond anger, there was an overwhelming sense of sorrow and disbelief.

Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, likened the situation to a historic moment of treachery. “The first thing that came to mind was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words: ‘This date will live in infamy,’” he said. “For us, it felt like a political Pearl Harbor.”

What made it even more painful, Merezhko noted, was that “this betrayal did not come from an enemy, but from someone we considered a friend.”

European leaders, who are set to meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss both continued aid for Ukraine and the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s own military capabilities, quickly stepped in to express their support for Kyiv.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, declared, “This is Europe’s moment, and we must rise to it.”

Speaking in Brussels, she proposed a new initiative that would allocate €150 billion (approximately $158 billion) in loans to EU member states to invest in defense.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin wasted no time in celebrating the aid suspension.

“It’s clear that the United States has been the primary sponsor of this war,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry S. Peskov told reporters. “If the U.S. halts these supplies, it will be the greatest contribution to peace.”

However, some Ukrainians and Western military analysts argued that rather than hastening the war’s end, this decision could embolden Moscow to keep fighting. They pointed out that Trump had not placed any pressure on Russia to de-escalate, even though it was Putin who initiated the war and whose forces remain on the offensive—albeit slowly.

The aid freeze will interrupt the delivery of interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, which have saved countless lives by shielding cities and critical infrastructure from Russian missile and drone attacks.

While Ukrainian officials and military experts noted that Kyiv is currently better equipped to sustain its war effort than it was in late 2023—when U.S. aid was similarly delayed—the long-term effects of the suspension could become increasingly severe.

A former Biden administration official, speaking anonymously, stated that Ukraine has sufficient key munitions to last through the summer, thanks to a surge in deliveries before Biden left office. These shipments included artillery rounds, rockets, and armored vehicles.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, stressed that Ukraine had endured previous aid suspensions and was now conducting a thorough assessment of its stockpiles. “We are reviewing what we have, what can be produced through partnerships, and what can be replaced,” he said.

Despite the rising tensions with the Trump administration, Ukraine remained hopeful that its alliance with Washington could still be preserved.

In a statement directed at Trump, Ukraine’s Parliament expressed profound gratitude and urged his administration not to abandon the country in its fight for survival as an independent nation.

“We firmly believe that Ukraine’s security and sustainable development are safeguarded by the unwavering support of the United States,” lawmakers wrote, “a support rooted in the very values that have driven America’s historic success and inspired millions of Ukrainians.”

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reaffirmed his government’s commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with Washington. He also revealed that Ukraine was prepared to sign an agreement granting the U.S. special access to its natural resources.

“This agreement has already been approved by Ukraine’s government,” he stated at a press conference. “We are ready to begin this cooperation immediately.”

Under the Biden administration, Ukraine worked tirelessly to secure bipartisan support in the U.S., hoping that such efforts would shape Trump’s stance.

However, both soldiers and civilians in Ukraine had been bracing for this moment.

“Every time we start wearing them down, our weapons supply gets cut off,” said Junior Lieutenant Oleh, a soldier stationed near Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. Referring to the United States, he added: “This isn’t the first time. For some reason, they don’t seem to want Russia to lose this war.”