Days after a fiery exchange with former President Donald Trump over Ukraine’s appreciation of US assistance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterates his thanks for American support. In a video message he released on X, he confirmed the significance of US support in Ukraine’s war against Russia.
Of course, we understand the importance of America, and we are grateful for all the support we’ve received from the United States. There has not been a day when we haven’t felt gratitude. It’s gratitude for the preservation of our independence – our resilience in Ukraine is based on what our partners are doing for us – and for their own security,” Zelensky said after attending a security conference in London.
As a result of these days, we see clear support from Europe. Even more unity, even more willingness to cooperate.
Everyone is united on the main issue – for peace to be real, we need real security guarantees. And this is the position of all of Europe – the entire continent. The… pic.twitter.com/inGxdO8jQz
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 3, 2025
He also stressed calling for actual guarantees of security, saying, “Everyone is united on the main issue – for peace to be real, we need real security guarantees. And this is the position of all of Europe – the entire continent, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Turkey.”
World Leaders Discuss Ukraine at Security Summit
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke after a pivotal summit on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The summit gathered 18 global leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The leaders addressed the conflict, with Zelensky emphasizing that “What we need is peace, not endless war. And that’s why we say security guarantees are the key to this.”
The summit in London was dedicated to Ukraine and our shared European future.
We feel strong support for Ukraine, for our people – both soldiers and civilians, and our independence. Together, we are working in Europe to establish a solid foundation for cooperation with the… pic.twitter.com/6CiBZ1HhOA
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 2, 2025
The summit reaffirmed global backing for Ukraine, with EU leaders insisting on continued security pledges.
Trump-Zelensky Clash
The renewed reaffirmation of thankfulness follows a dramatic confrontation between Trump and Zelensky in their first encounter since Trump resumed office in January. The meeting at the Oval Office turned confrontational in a jiffy as Vice President JD Vance pressed the point that diplomacy was the answer to the war. He chastised Zelensky for not being “thankful” enough for the assistance from the US.
Trump also upbraided Zelensky, claiming Ukraine would have been defeated by Russia were it not for US aid. The contentious argument led to a hasty exit by Zelensky in his motorcade, cutting short a scheduled joint press conference.
The US and Ukraine also fell short of clinching an important minerals deal designed to finance a halt to the war. While there are ongoing strains between the US and Ukraine, Zelensky is adamant about obtaining assurances of long-term security guarantees in addition to pledging appreciation for US assistance.
