‘We are grateful’: Zelensky posts video message days after Oval Office spat with Trump

Thanking the U.S. for the years-long U.S. policy of massive support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion, Mr. Zelensky said that there has not been a day when we haven’t felt gratitude

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (March 3, 2025) posted a video thanking America for all the support to the country in it’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,” Mr. Zelensky said.

The video message comes days after an unprecedented spat with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday when Mr. Zelensky was on an official visit to Washington.

In a video posted on X, Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine sees “clear support from Europe” as a result of the extraordinary Oval Office scene.

“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, Türkiye,” Mr. Zelensky said, a day after the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed U.K.’s unwavering support.

European leaders scrambled to voice support for Mr. Zelensky after he was made to leave the White House without signing a minerals-sharing deal. Mr. Stamer announced a new £1.6 billion ($2 billion) deal that would allow Ukraine to purchase 5,000 air-defence missiles using export finance.

Mr. Starmer added that the U.K. and France will work with other countries to arrive at a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia and present the plan to Mr. Trump.

Thanking the U.S. for the years-long U.S. policy of massive support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion, Mr. Zelensky said, “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.”

The clash at the White House saw Mr. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance shouting at Mr. Zelensky in front of the media, accusing him of not being “thankful” to the U.S. and refusing to accept their proposed terms for a truce.

Mr. Zelensky was asked to leave the White House without lunch by Trump administration officials, U.S. media reported. Mr. Zelensky, however, refused to apologise, telling Fox News, “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” He did, however, say he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters.

Published - March 03, 2025 11:46 am IST