London, march 3 (Al Jazeera)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a minerals deal with the United States is “ready” to be signed despite his public bust-up with US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to journalists after a pivotal summit with European leaders in London, Zelensky said Kyiv was ready to go forward with the agreement, which fell through following a public clash with 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,” Zelensky 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.”
Zelensky expressed confidence that relations with Trump could be salvaged and that his administration would not cut off assistance to Kyiv.
Zelensky’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.
The Trump administration’s proposal to jointly exploit Ukraine’s natural resources as part of a broader deal to end the war collapsed in spectacular fashion on Friday during a televised meeting between Zelensky and the US president at the White House.
After Zelensky challenged US Vice President JD Vance over his contention that diplomacy was needed after former US President Joe Biden’s approach had failed, Trump and Vance castigated the Ukrainian leader for not being sufficiently grateful for US support and overestimating his bargaining position.
Following the exchange, Trump cancelled the rest of Zelensky’s visit, including a signing ceremony for the minerals deal, and said the Ukrainian leader could return when “he is ready” for peace.
Several Republican lawmakers, including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, suggested that Zelensky should resign if he could not negotiate with Trump.
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