After Two Days of US Suspension of Support for Ukraine War... "US-Ukraine Agree to Hold Working-Level Talks"

Zelensky Seeks to Restore Ties with Trump
Ukraine and U.S. Agree to Hold Working-Level Peace Talks
Military Aid Suspension Pressures Kyiv Toward Negotiations

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and Donald Trump, President of the United States, held a summit at the White House on the 28th of last month. A senior Ukrainian official announced on the 5th (local time) that the United States and Ukraine have agreed to hold working-level talks for peace negotiations. Photo by EPA and Yonhap News.

A senior Ukrainian official announced on the 5th (local time) that the United States and Ukraine have agreed to hold working-level talks for peace negotiations. This comes just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump took a 'strong measure' by suspending military aid to Ukraine on the 3rd.

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, wrote on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter) in the afternoon, "I had a phone call with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," adding, "We discussed the next steps toward a fair and lasting peace."

Yermak further stated, "We also exchanged views on security issues and coordination of positions within the framework of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States," and added, "We agreed to hold talks for our teams in the near future to continue this important work."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned in a speech that there had been "positive movement" in cooperation with the United States, and Reuters reported that he expects results from the upcoming talks between the two sides next week.

The phone call between the two sides took place after President Zelensky publicly expressed a message on the 4th to normalize relations with the United States and sent a direct letter to President Trump. In a post on X the previous day, Zelensky said, "It is time to set things right," and stated, "We are ready to work toward lasting peace under President Trump's strong leadership." He also emphasized that regarding the mineral agreement desired by the U.S., "Ukraine is ready to sign anytime, in any way."

President Trump also said in a joint session speech of Congress the previous afternoon, "Today, I received an important letter from President Zelensky," and conveyed that Zelensky expressed his readiness to sign the mineral agreement.

On the 28th of last month, during a White House meeting, President Zelensky left the White House hurriedly after a heated argument with President Trump over a plan to end the war in Ukraine, during which he was insulted with the remark, "You have no cards." The mineral agreement that was supposed to be finalized at the summit also fell through. Subsequently, President Trump took the strong measure of suspending U.S. military aid to Ukraine. AP News reported on the same day that the U.S. also temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

For President Zelensky, restoring relations with President Trump is a critical task that could determine the fate of the nation. AP News noted regarding Zelensky's humiliating situation, "It may follow him for the rest of his presidential term, perhaps for life," and pointed out, "Whether relations with the White House are restored seems likely to decide Ukraine's future."