Zelenskyy thanks 'President of America', says Ukraine 'never wanted war' after Trump's 'zero gratitude' remark

He added that diplomatic efforts have recently gained momentum. Calling this renewed push essential, Zelenskyy said, “It is important to ensure that the steps to end the war are effective, and that everything is doable."

His remarks also countered Trump’s criticism directly: “Ukraine has never wanted war, and we will never be an obstacle to peace."

Zelenskyy said that Kyiv expects tangible movement in the peace process soon, noting that the government’s priorities are centered on the safety and rights of Ukrainians.

“The first priority is a reliable peace, guaranteed security, respect for our people, and respect for everyone who gave their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression," he said.

According to Zelenskyy, the country’s direction is backed by broad domestic approval. “Millions of Ukrainians clearly support our state’s position. It is palpable. There is firm support for our independence and Ukrainian sovereignty. People must benefit from all political decisions." His comments portrayed a nation united behind the leadership’s diplomatic and security goals.

He also gave a summary of a day filled with discussions involving both American officials and representatives from various European partners.

“Today is the day of many meetings and talks," Zelenskyy noted, describing the intensive series of engagements. These conversations, he said, were part of the careful planning underway: “We are working very carefully on the steps that are needed to end the war."

Zelenskyy mentioned that Kyiv had recently noticed constructive signals from Washington. “It is important that there is a conversation with the American representatives. And there is a signal that President Trump’s team hears us," he said, welcoming the indication that communication channels remain open.

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude to allied governments worldwide. “Thank you to everyone in the world who is with Ukraine. Thank you to America, to the President of America, to all the leaders of Europe," he said, underscoring that international unity remains a crucial factor for Ukraine.

He also referred to warnings from intelligence partners, who alerted Kyiv to internal attempts by some Ukrainian actors to amplify narratives aligned with Russia. “This does not help," Zelenskyy said firmly, insisting that those “with a Ukrainian passport need to feel responsible for Ukraine."

He said that unity is the country’s core strength, concluding, “There is our state position, there is Ukrainian dignity. We need to move in order to strengthen it, not undermine it." He added that “It is really felt that from millions of Ukrainians there is a clear support for the state position."

The backdrop to these developments lies in the origins of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The crisis began in 2014 after mass protests in Kyiv removed President Viktor Yanukovych, leading to Russia’s annexation of Crimea following a referendum widely dismissed by many countries.

Fighting soon broke out in Donetsk and Luhansk between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists, and although the Minsk agreements attempted to halt the violence, clashes continued. Tensions reached a new level in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale offensive. Notably, during both the 2014 events and the 2022 invasion, Trump was not serving as president; his term lasted from 2016 until 2020.