Zelenskyy defends the elliptical office statement and highlights the need for security assurances

WASHINGTON – Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelenkie defended his comments at a tense White House meeting on February 28th.

In an interview with Bret Baier of Fox News, Zelenskyy repeatedly reiterated his stance on the ceasefire agreement, suggesting that he is open to peace, but insisted on ensuring lasting peace through security guarantees from the United States.

“We are ready for peace, but we must be in a strong position,” he said.

His comments came after a heated debate that exploded when he visited the White House to meet President Donald Trump. During the meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance expressed concern about Zelensky’s public claims about security assurances as part of the proposed mineral trade.

Trump told reporters that Zelensky would like to return to sign the contract, noting that the Ukrainian president is not ready for a peace deal yet.

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Zelenskyy said mineral trade was the first step in security assurance and thanked Trump for the invitation. He told Fox News that it intended to bring both sides closer to peace.

“That’s why I’m here,” he said.

Zelensky also said that without US support it would be extremely difficult for Ukraine to continue its fight against Russia. He acknowledged that the US and other countries would not offer NATO membership to Ukraine.

“If it’s not NATO, let’s build NATO in Ukraine. That’s my position,” he said.

“What security guarantees do you have when you say there’s no NATO? I’m not pushing. We’re not putting pressure on us. We’re just asking.”

Zelenskyy added that Europeans have already committed to providing security to Ukraine with boots on the ground. He also said the US may consider providing support as a backstop “just to ensure they are with Europeans.”

The meeting escalated after Zelensky was accused of being rude and not showing gratitude for Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

At an oval office meeting, Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin had broken the ceasefire 25 times.

In response to repeated requests for security assurances, Vance told Zelensky:

After the bilateral meeting, the two sides were expected to meet again for lunch, but Ukrainian representatives were asked to leave, White House officials told the Epoch Times. And lunch for Zelenskyy and his team was given to staff at the White House.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz conveyed a message to Zelensky that Trump and Vance did not want to continue the meeting, officials said.

Zelenskyy says there’s no reason to apologize

During an interview with Fox, Zelensky said there was no reason to apologise to Trump after their enthusiastic exchange.

“No, I respect the President and I respect the people of America,” Zelensky said in response to a question about whether he should apologise.

“I think we have to be very open and very honest. I don’t know if we’ve done anything wrong,” he added.

At the start of the interview, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Trump and Congress for their bipartisan support, saying he was always very grateful.

“I think we have to be on the same side. I hope the President is on our side with us. That’s very important to stop Putin,” Zelensky said, defending his remarks in the oval office.

When Baier asked if he regretted the conversation in front of the media, Zelenskyy said: We had many different dialogues so I don’t think that was good. ”

“Do you agree that President Trump is getting too close to Vladimir Putin?” Baier asked.

Zelensky said Trump told him he wanted him to be in the “center” of two fighting countries to ensure that all parties participate in the negotiations.

“I really want him to be more by our side,” Zelensky said. “The war didn’t just start somewhere in our country. It started when Russia brought this war to our country.”

During the oval office meeting, Trump rejected criticism of having an alliance with Putin.

“You say to me something really bad about Putin and then ‘Hello, Vladimir! What are we doing about the trade?’ doesn’t work that way,” Trump said. “I don’t have anyone. I work together for the benefit of the United States and the world.”

In an interview with Fox, Zelenskyy also addressed concerns about how Ukraine handled the weapons and money it received from the US.

Baier asked the Ukrainian leader if there was “very strict accounting as to where the money went,” raising concerns about Ukrainian corruption and the possibility of equipment sales.

Zelenskyy told Baier that concerns were unfair.

“It went through the border. He spoke about the shipment of arms to Ukraine. He then offered similar security in regards to direct financial support from the US to Ukraine.

“It’s very open, it’s digital,” he said. “If anyone wants to check it out again, we’re very open with this.”

Nathan Worcester contributed to this report.