Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked Donald Trump on Sunday. This gesture followed critical comments from the former U.S. president about Ukraine’s leadership.
The exchange occurred during crucial negotiations in Geneva. Officials from the U.S. and Ukraine are working to finalise a draft plan to end the war with Russia.
Trump initially voiced frustration on his Truth Social platform. He stated Ukraine’s leadership had “EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE” for his administration’s efforts to end the conflict.
Zelensky responded a few hours later on X. He wrote, “Ukraine is grateful to the United States… and personally to President Trump for the assistance that… has been saving Ukrainian lives.” He specifically referenced Javelin anti-tank missiles, a key form of early U.S. military support.
Zelensky thanks Trump for support after criticism — but tries to distance Ukraine from US peace plan https://t.co/cX0px5LuRE pic.twitter.com/KlV0cNvyu0
— New York Post (@nypost) November 23, 2025The initial U.S. draft proposal included several hardline demands. These requirements aligned with some of Moscow’s positions. The plan reportedly asked Ukraine to cede occupied territory and limit the size of its army. It also included a pledge to never join NATO.
In return, the proposal offered vague security guarantees. It also suggested using frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov stated the latest draft now reflects “most of Ukraine’s key priorities.” The document remains in its final stages of approval.
Read: Ukraine Faces Critical Decision as Trump Pushes Peace Plan with Russian
Trump had set a Thanksgiving deadline for Ukraine to approve the plan. However, he has also signalled some flexibility on that timeline.
