Ukrainian and U.S. officials have agreed to meet in the near future as the United States recently moved to pause military aid and intelligence sharing with the country, a top Kyiv official said.
“We also exchanged views on security issues and the alignment of positions within the framework of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States,” he said. “We have scheduled a meeting for our teams in the near future to continue this important work.”
His comment comes a day after Zelenskyy released a statement saying that a public dispute he had with President Donald Trump in the White House last week was regrettable, stressing he wants to enter peace negotiations to end his country’s war with Russia.
“President [Donald] Trump had a real question about whether President Zelenskyy was committed to the peace process,” CIA Director John Ratcliff said in an interview with Fox News.
He said the pause “on the military front and the intelligence front” was temporary and that he believes the administration will again “work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”
A day earlier, Trump told members of Congress during his yearly presidential address that he welcomes Zelenskyy’s willingness to sign a minerals deal with the United States and that his Ukrainian counterpart expressed the commitment in a letter to him earlier in the day.
“Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,’” Trump said, signaling progress has been made.
Trump said Zelenskyy had said he stood ready to work “under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts” and that he valued how much America had 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 quoted Zelenskyy as saying.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said, adding that “simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace.”
Last week, Trump and Zelenskyy engaged in a public spat on Feb. 28 before the Ukrainian leader was dismissed from the White House. Trump and Vice President JD Vance told him that he should be thankful for U.S. support rather than asking for more in front of reporters.
Zelenskyy said he doesn’t believe Russia will honor any cease-fire agreement and pressed for security guarantees from the United States.
“You’re gambling with World War Three,” Trump said in response.
At the same time, the European Commission announced a plan Tuesday that would allow European Union nations to increase defense spending to back Ukraine and strengthen the bloc’s security, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Talks between the two governments come just over three years after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, at one point sending columns of heavy tanks, soldiers, and other military hardware to the outskirts of Kyiv.
