Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has backed down after attempting to strong-arm President Donald Trump into continued U.S. aid, issuing an apology in a letter following a heated Oval Office confrontation.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, confirmed Monday that Zelenskyy sent a letter expressing regret over the incident. “Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff said, adding that the move was a sign of “progress” in ongoing talks.
Trump had already revealed to Congress that he received a letter from the Ukrainian leader but did not mention the apology at the time. Instead, he emphasized Ukraine’s new willingness to negotiate peace with Russia — a stark departure from Zelenskyy’s previous refusal to consider any resolution that did not include total victory.
The dispute between the two leaders delayed a proposed minerals deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources. That agreement was expected to be finalized during Zelenskyy’s visit, but the confrontation derailed those plans.
With military assistance frozen and intelligence-sharing suspended, Ukraine is now facing the consequences of Zelenskyy’s approach. His initial resistance only reinforced Trump’s position that endless support for Kyiv was not an option.
Negotiations in Saudi Arabia will focus on ceasefire conditions and security measures for post-war Ukraine. Whether Zelenskyy’s apology signals a real shift in Ukraine’s strategy or simply an effort to save face remains an open question.
