Zelenskyy Apologizes To President Trump For White House Disrespect
After a failed attempt to pressure President Donald Trump into more U.S. aid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has backtracked and issued an apology to the American leader. The letter comes after a heated confrontation in the Oval Office, where Trump made it clear that Ukraine would not be receiving unlimited support.
Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed Monday that Zelenskyy sent a letter expressing regret for the incident. “Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff told Fox News. He described the move as “an important step” as U.S. and Ukrainian officials prepare for negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
Trump had already revealed the existence of the letter during his joint address to Congress, stating that Ukraine was now willing to negotiate with Russia and that it valued past U.S. assistance. However, he did not mention an apology at the time.
The incident that led to Zelenskyy’s letter unfolded during his visit to Washington, where he clashed with Trump and Vice President JD Vance over military aid. After the tense meeting, Zelenskyy publicly criticized the discussion but initially refused to issue an apology. Now, after realizing his miscalculation, he appears to be attempting damage control.
With military aid frozen and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine on hold, Zelenskyy faces mounting pressure to agree to peace talks. Negotiations in Saudi Arabia will focus on securing a ceasefire and discussing security measures for a post-war Ukraine. A potential minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, previously delayed due to the Oval Office confrontation, is also on the table.
Despite Zelenskyy’s attempt to mend ties, Trump’s administration remains focused on ending the war — whether or not the Ukrainian leader fully cooperates.
