"We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I appreciate President [Trump of the USA], Congress for their bipartisan support, and the American people. Ukrainians have always valued this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion. America's assistance has been vital for our survival, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. However, we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our common goals," the president wrote.
He emphasized that it is crucial for Ukraine to have Trump’s support. According to Zelensky, the U.S. president wants to end the war, but no one desires peace more than Ukrainians.
Zelensky recalled the words of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan: "Peace is not merely the absence of war." He stated that peace must be durable and just. A ceasefire will not work with the illegitimate president of the aggressor country, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Zelensky declared. He reminded that over the past 10 years, Putin has violated the ceasefire regime 25 times.
"We are ready to sign an agreement on minerals, and this will be the first step towards security guarantees. But that is not enough, and we need more. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We have been fighting for three years, and Ukrainians must know that America is on our side. I cannot change Ukraine's position regarding Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and this is the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiating table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and our partners are with us," the statement read.
Zelensky noted that the minerals agreement is just the first step towards security guarantees and moving closer to peace. Ukraine cannot simply stop fighting without guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow, he stated.
"Without U.S. support, it will be difficult. But we cannot lose our freedom and our people. We have seen how the Russians came into our homes and killed many people. No one wants a new wave of occupation. If we cannot be accepted into NATO, we need a clear structure of security guarantees from our allies in the U.S.," the statement said.
The president added that Europe is prepared for unforeseen circumstances and to assist in financing the Ukrainian army. However, Ukraine also needs the U.S. to define security guarantees—what kind, to what extent, and when. "Once these guarantees are provided, we can speak with Russia, Europe, and the U.S. about diplomacy. The war itself is too long, and we do not have enough weapons to completely drive them out," Zelensky wrote.
He noted that all Ukrainians want to hear a strong position from the U.S. in support of Ukraine.
"It is clear that the U.S. may seek dialogue with Putin. But the U.S. has always talked about 'peace through strength.' And together we can take strong steps against Putin. Our relationship with the American president is more than just two leaders; it is a historical and solid connection between our peoples. That is why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation. Americans have helped save our people. Human beings and human rights come first. We are truly grateful. We only want strong relations with America, and I sincerely hope that we will have them," the statement concluded.