Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his gratitude towards the United States, despite a tense and heated exchange with Donald Trump during a high-profile meeting at the White House.

Hours after the public spat with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy took to social media to stress that Ukraine remains thankful for the US’s continued support.

Zelenskyy: “We Are Truly Thankful”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy wrote:

“I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation. American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”

His statement came in response to criticism from Vance, who, during the White House meeting, challenged Zelenskyy by asking: “Have you said thank you once?”

Summit in London

Zelenskyy is now in London, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon ahead of a major summit on Sunday.

The gathering will see over a dozen European and EU leaders, including Zelenskyy, convene to discuss security and Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.

White House Meeting Descends Into Tension

Zelenskyy’s trip to the UK follows a dramatic and confrontational meeting with Trump at the White House, where he sought to discuss a ceasefire and a potential mineral trade deal with the US.

However, the discussions quickly spiraled into an argument, with Trump and Vance taking a strong stance against Zelenskyy’s demands.

During the meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with the lives of millions of people” and failing to acknowledge America’s support.

“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country, a country that has backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy pushed back, challenging Trump on his soft stance on Vladimir Putin, and urging him to make “no compromises with a killer.”

Looking Ahead

As Zelenskyy moves forward with his European diplomatic tour, his next priority will be securing further commitments from Western allies in the fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

While the US-Ukraine relationship remains strained, Zelenskyy’s insistence that the partnership extends “beyond just two leaders” signals his determination to keep American support intact despite recent tensions.