Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian people “are truly thankful” for US support, hours after talks with Donald Trump descended into a row at the White House.
During a disastrous meeting with Mr Trump, the Ukrainian president was asked by Vice President JD Vance, “have you said thank you once?”
In a social media post, Mr Zelenskyy has said “I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation” and insisted the US-Ukraine relationship “is more than just two leaders”.
He added: “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.”
Mr Zelenskyy will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Saturday afternoon.
It comes ahead of a major summit hosted by the UK prime minister on Sunday, where more than a dozen European and EU leaders including Mr Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the Ukraine war and security.
Ukraine latest: Zelenskyy says Ukraine should be ‘not forgotten’
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The Ukrainian president had travelled to Washington DC to attempt to secure a ceasefire agreement after three years of war with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.
The meeting descended into a shouting match in front of cameras and journalists.
Mr Vance told Mr Zelenskyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.
“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
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The Ukrainian president tried to object but Mr Trump spoke over him and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.
“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”
“You’re right now not in a very good position,” he continued. “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”
Mr Zelenskyy defended himself and his country, openly challenging Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urging him to make “no compromises with a killer”.
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After the row, Mr Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart to leave the White House, according to a US official, leaving the minerals deal in limbo.
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European leaders expressed their support for Mr Zelenskyy ahead of the UK summit on Sunday.
Several leaders including Canada’s Justin Trudeau, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz all tweeted.
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