After a disastrous attempt to pressure President Donald Trump into maintaining open-ended U.S. military aid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reversed course and sent a formal apology to the White House.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, revealed the details of the apology Monday, calling it a significant step. “Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff told Fox News.
WELCOME TO TRUMP’S AMERICA. We are done taking other countries’ bullshit:
WITKOFF: "Zelensky sent a letter to the President. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office." pic.twitter.com/ARmhvwWBYY
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) March 10, 2025
The diplomatic fallout began when Trump accused Zelenskyy of failing to show proper appreciation for U.S. support, leading to a fiery exchange that resulted in the delay of a proposed minerals deal between the two nations. Trump also took immediate steps to freeze military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, a move that made Zelenskyy’s position even more precarious.
Zelenskyy’s refusal to apologize in the immediate aftermath of the meeting only worsened the situation. However, with Trump making it clear that Washington will no longer be a blank check for Ukraine’s war efforts, the Ukrainian leader had little choice but to walk back his stance.
Talks in Saudi Arabia are expected to cover the conditions of a ceasefire, along with long-term security measures for Ukraine. The potential revival of the minerals deal will also be on the table, though it remains unclear if trust between the two leaders can be fully restored.
Zelenskyy’s shift underscores Trump’s success in resetting the U.S.-Ukraine relationship on his terms, making it clear that Washington will not be pressured into endless foreign entanglements.
