President Trump told Congress members he is “just getting started”, as ITV News US Correspondent Dan Rivers reports
Donald Trump told Congress on Tuesday evening that Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy had written to him to say he appreciates US support for his country in its war with Russia and is ready to sign a deal.
Quoting Zelenskyy’s letter to him, Trump told members: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts… We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.”
In his longest presidential speech yet – lasting around one hour and 40 minutes – Trump added that Zelenskyy said he was ready to sign a deal that would give the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals “at any time that is convenient for you”.
Trump also told Congress members on Tuesday that he is “just getting started” with his political agenda and said that the US would take control of Greenland “one way or another”.
The speech also saw angry scenes from top Democrat figures, with Texas Rep Al Green ejected from the chamber for heckling, having shouted out: “He has no mandate”.
During his address, Trump expressed his frustration at how much money the US has spent on the Ukraine conflict, but he also responded positively to a social media post by Zelenskyy in which he said it was “regrettable” how relations between the pair had broken down.
It follows a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday in which Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three” and told him to “come back when he is ready for peace”.
The Trump administration and Ukrainian officials had been expected to sign off on a critical minerals deal, intended in part to pay back the US for aid it has sent Kyiv since the start of the war, before talks broke down.
While Trump said he “appreciated” getting the letter from Zelenskyy, he did not say if it would affect his policy toward Ukraine, following his decision on Monday to suspend all US military aid to the war-torn country. “Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” Zelenskyy said.
“It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.
“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format.
“We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”
He also thanked the US for helping “Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence” and added that the first steps to peace could be the release of prisoners and a truce in the sky and sea.
ITV News understands that Zelenskyy’s post on X is a summary of the formal ceasefire proposal drafted by him, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
It is understood this has now been submitted to Trump.
Ahead of Zelenskyy’s post, Starmer had spoken with him on the phone on Tuesday afternoon, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
During the call, Starmer updated Zelenskyy on his discussion with Trump, adding that it “was vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible.”
The statement continued: “Turning to President Zelenskyy’s most recent calls for further diplomatic efforts to achieve the swiftest possible end to the war, the Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy’s steadfast commitment to securing peace.
“Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the Prime Minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
