After an embarrassing public spat with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now walked back his defiant stance and issued a formal apology in an attempt to repair relations with Washington.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, revealed Monday that Zelenskyy sent a letter to the White House acknowledging his mistake. “Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff told Fox News.
This comes after Trump called out Zelenskyy for showing a lack of gratitude for the billions of dollars in military aid the US had provided to Ukraine. The confrontation led to a significant delay in a proposed minerals deal that would have granted the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources.
Zelenskyy initially refused to apologize, even appearing on Fox News after the meeting to defend his position. However, with Trump suspending military assistance and intelligence-sharing, Ukraine’s leader had little choice but to attempt to smooth things over.
Negotiations in Saudi Arabia will focus on ceasefire conditions and Ukraine’s post-war security arrangements. Trump has made it clear that the US will no longer fund Ukraine’s war indefinitely, and Zelenskyy’s forced apology signals a shift in strategy as he faces mounting pressure.
The talks will also revisit the minerals deal that was expected to be signed during Zelenskyy’s visit but was put on hold after the Oval Office confrontation. Whether Zelenskyy has truly changed his approach or is merely trying to salvage US support remains to be seen.
