Tue Mar 04 17:07:38 UTC 2025: ## Zelenskyy Seeks to Repair Ties with Trump Amid US Military Aid Freeze

**London, March 4, 2025** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed regret over his contentious White House meeting with President Donald Trump last Friday and is seeking to mend relations to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. The statement comes after a shocking announcement by the Trump administration to suspend military aid to Kyiv.

Zelenskyy took to X (formerly Twitter) to call the meeting “regrettable” and proposed a partial truce as a first step towards negotiations with Russia. He offered a ceasefire on missile, drone, and bombing attacks on civilian infrastructure, along with a naval truce, contingent on reciprocal action from Russia. He reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace and willingness to negotiate immediately.

The aid freeze follows the heated White House discussions, prompting US Secretary of State [Name of Secretary of State] to call for an apology from Zelenskyy. The suspension has raised concerns, particularly given that a deal to open up Ukraine’s mineral resources to US investment, which was intended to be signed on Friday, fell apart amidst the Oval Office clash.

Vice President JD Vance, in a Fox News interview, urged Zelenskyy to accept the mineral deal, arguing it would provide the best security guarantee against future Russian aggression. Zelenskyy stated his readiness to sign the agreement at any time.

While military experts suggest the immediate impact of the aid freeze may be lessened due to Ukraine’s reduced reliance on direct US assistance, the move is significant. Last year’s temporary halt in aid caused shortages of air defenses and ammunition. The suspension puts added pressure on European allies, who are now scrambling to increase their defense spending. The European Commission has proposed a significant boost to EU defense spending, potentially reaching €800 billion. An emergency EU summit is scheduled for Thursday to discuss the matter.

However, concerns remain about Europe’s capacity to fully replace US aid, especially regarding crucial technologies like Predator air defense systems and the reliance on Starlink satellite internet provided by Elon Musk’s company.

The Kremlin, while welcoming the aid suspension as potentially beneficial for peace, is reportedly awaiting confirmation of the move. Russian officials have indicated they intend to use the situation to their advantage, potentially expanding territorial gains and strengthening their position in any future negotiations. Russian officials believe that Ukraine’s current ammunition reserves will be depleted within months, prompting a call to continue targeting Ukrainian supply depots.

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