Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told President Trump on Tuesday that the time had come to “make things right” after the US paused all military aid to Ukraine, but stopped short of apologizing for his role in a dramatic Oval Office dispute the previous Friday.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. 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,” Zelensky, 47, wrote on X.

Hours later, in his nightly address to the Ukrainian people, Zelensky indicated that the Kyiv government had not been directly notified by the US that the aid had been halted and was seeking a further explanation.

“I have instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, the heads of our intelligence agencies, and our diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and obtain official information,” he said. “People should not have to guess.”

Zelensky added that “Ukraine and America deserve a respectful dialogue and a clear position from one another. Especially when it comes to protecting lives during a full-scale war”, before noting that military aid had been paused for a brief period in January.

The Ukrainian president had come to Washington on Friday expecting to sign a framework minerals deal with the US, but was booted from the White House after his meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance descended into a shouting match over perceived “disrespect” by Zelensky toward the US administration.

Trump, 78, said at the time that he would next speak to Zelensky “when he is ready for Peace.” Approximately 72 hours later, the White House announced a pause in aid, with an official explaining: “The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well.”

“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace,” Zelensky duly wrote in his X message Tuesday. “None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

Zelensky also publicly proposed a halt to all combat operations in the air and at sea “if Russia will do the same” — terms similar to what was proposed by European leaders over the weekend.

A partial truce, the Ukrainian president wrote, would amount to a ban on the use of “missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure,” as well as a possible prisoner exchange with Russia. 

“Then,” Zelensky wrote, “we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.”

Zelensky also said on X that Ukraine would sign the mineral deal at “any time and in any convenient format,” before once again expressing appreciation for past US support.

“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins,” he said, referring to shoulder-fired, anti-armor missiles. 

“We are grateful for this.”

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with both Trump and Zelensky Tuesday, Macron’s office said, and “welcomes” the Ukrainian’s “willingness to re-engage in dialogue with the US.” It released no details about the discussion with Trump.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also spoke to the Ukrainian leader and “welcomed President Zelenskyy’s [sic] steadfast commitment to securing peace.”

Ukraine and its allies are concerned Trump is pushing for a quick cease-fire that will favor Russia, which Kyiv says cannot be trusted to honor truces.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the Associated Press Tuesday that American assistance is “vital” and has saved “perhaps tens of thousands” of civilian and military lives. But he emphasized that any peace agreement must be “on Ukraine’s terms, as the victim country.”

Ukraine wants “concrete security guarantees” from Washington, European countries and Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, he said. Giving up territory to Russia, which occupies nearly 20% of Ukraine, “is not possible” under the United Nations Charter, he said.

With Post wires