President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Tuesday offered a course of action that he said could end the war, while trying to assure the Trump administration that his government was dedicated to peace.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” Mr. Zelensky wrote on X. “It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right.”
He was referring to an explosive meeting at the White House last week in which President Trump berated Mr. Zelensky and called him ungrateful. Mr. Trump followed up on Monday by announcing that he was pausing all U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said he was ready to release Russian prisoners of war, stop long-range drone and missile strikes aimed at Russian targets, and declare a truce at sea immediately — moves that he said would help establish a pathway to peace.
Only, however, “if Russia will do the same,” he added.
Mr. Trump, in a speech to Congress on Tuesday night, noted that Mr. Zelensky was ready to come to the negotiating table and sign a revenue-sharing minerals deal with the United States.
Mr. Trump also spoke of his discussions with Russia, saying, “If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.” He added, “we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace.”