JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump said it was time to end the war, when it expressed Ukraine's willingness to negotiate and Russia's readiness to make peace.
President Trump on Tuesday said he received a letter from President Volodymyr Zelensky containing Kyiv's statement of willingness to come to the negotiating table regarding the Ukraine-Russia war.
"Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants more peace than Ukraine," President Trump said in a speech to Congress on Tuesday, citing the letter.
President Trump further said he had carried out "serious discussions with Russia" and had "received strong signals they were ready for peace".
"Isn't that beautiful?" he said. "It's time to stop this madness. It's time to stop killings. It's time to end this absurd war. If you want to end the war, you have to talk to both sides," the Republican president exclaimed.
President Trump himself is expected to further outline his plans for Ukraine and Russia in a speech at Congress, but does not reveal further details about how he plans to end the biggest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
He said Ukraine was ready to sign a mineral deal with the US, which Washington says is critical to securing continued support for Ukraine's defenses.
Four sources told Reuters the administration of President Trump and Ukraine plans to sign the deal in exchange for military assistance, which President Trump has temporarily suspended.
But then on Tuesday US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News, "No signing was planned," according to an upload on X by a Fox reporter.
President Trump did not provide further details about the mineral deal, so his fate was unclear.
Tuesday morning, President Zelensky promised to improve relations with the US after what he described as "regrettable" clashes in the Oval Room, the White House with President Trump last week.
President Zelensky said he wanted to "improve the situation" and be ready "whenever and in whatever format" to sign the mineral deal, which he left on the table during a visit to Washington after an argument in the Oval Room with President Trump.
His remarks came a day after President Trump stopped military aid to Ukraine, his latest move to change US policy and take a more gentle stance on Russia.
"My team and I are ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to achieve lasting peace," President Zelensky said in a statement on X, without mentioning a halt to US military supplies.
The statement was clearly aimed at emphasizing Kyiv's gratitude after the explosive confrontation at the White House, in which President Trump and Vice President JD Vance rebuked President Zelensky for lack of respect.
"We really appreciate how much America has done to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and independence," President Zelensky wrote.
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"Our meeting in Washington didn't go as it should. It's very regrettable that it happened like this. It's time to improve the situation," he continued.
He further outlined the path to the peace treaty, which he said could begin with the release of prisoners and the halt to air and sea attacks, if Russia did the same.
"Then we want to move very quickly through all the next stages and work closely with the US to agree to a strong final agreement," he explained.
In Moscow, the Kremlin said cutting US military aid to Ukraine was the best move towards peace, although they were still waiting to confirm President Trump's move.
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