Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Tuesday that his Oval Office blowout with President Trump and JD Vance was “regrettable” and said that his war-torn country is ready to negotiate a peace deal with Russia in response to the new pause on all U.S. military aid.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace,” Zelensky continued.
“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it would suspend aid to Ukraine until Zelensky shows he is willing to come to the negotiating table. Trump believed Zelensky wasn’t acting in good faith during their Oval Office meeting on Friday.
Zelensky’s visit to the White House began to deteriorate after he questioned Vance’s commitment to beginning negotiations with Russia absent firm security guarantees for Ukraine, pointing out that President Putin has repeatedly violated previous signed agreements. Vance then scolded Zelensky for being “disrespectful,” acknowledging the U.S. is trying to save Ukraine from total destruction. From there, the argument escalated.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War III!” Trump told Zelensky, as the two sat next to each other in the Oval Office.
“Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” Vance chimed in. “You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the Unites States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.
Zelensky’s statement is a sharp turn from the Ukrainian president’s defiance in recent days. Zelensky previously said a peace deal was “still very, very far away,” despite Trump’s efforts to broker a lasting cease-fire.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S.,” the president continued. “Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”
After he was kicked out of the White House, Zelensky offered a meek apology on Fox News. He then traveled to Europe, where he spoke with Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron about a cease-fire plan that the U.K., France, and Ukraine would present to the U.S.
Zelensky’s diplomatic visit to the White House was supposed to end with a signed minerals deal. The economic partnership would have given the U.S. access to rare earth minerals in return for providing security guarantees to Ukraine in the hopes of deterring future Russian aggression.
Ukraine wants more security assurances from the U.S., while the White House understands that potential concessions to Russia are needed to end the war. Despite remaining hesitant to seal the deal for some time, Zelensky said he will sign the agreement to secure peace for his embattled country.
“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format,” he wrote. “We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”
In a Monday interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance touted the minerals deal and reassured that the Trump administration remains committed to peace as long as Zelensky is willing to come to the negotiating table in good faith and seriously work on the details of a cease-fire agreement.
The Trump administration is looking for a public apology from Zelensky before moving forward with the minerals deal. Until Trump comments on the matter, it remains to be seen whether Zelensky’s statement counts as an adequate apology.