Zelenskyy says US support ‘crucial’ as he arrives in UK

The Guardian reports.

The Ukrainian president is meeting the British prime minister on Saturday afternoon and European leaders at the defense summit on Sunday.

Zelenskyy arrived in the UK after the unprecedented public clash with Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, in the White House’s Oval Office on Friday. 

“It is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets about it, neither during the war nor after,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram after Washington visit.

Later, in a post on X, he added: “America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”

Zelenskyy added: “We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for three years, and the Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.”

He said he was “truly thankful” for US support.

• According to CNN, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy has 33 times expressed gratitude to Trump, Biden, Congress, U.S. defense companies, and the American people.