After a failed attempt to pressure President Donald Trump into continued U.S. military aid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been forced to retreat and issue an apology for his behavior.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, revealed Monday that Zelenskyy sent a letter expressing regret for his actions. “Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff told Fox News, calling it a sign of progress.
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
Trump had previously referenced receiving a letter from Zelenskyy during his congressional address but did not mention the apology at the time. Instead, he highlighted Ukraine’s apparent willingness to negotiate peace with Russia — a drastic shift from Zelenskyy’s prior refusal to consider any compromise.
The dispute between the two leaders also led to the delay of a minerals deal that would have given the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources. That agreement was expected to be finalized during Zelenskyy’s visit but was postponed after the confrontation.
With U.S. military aid frozen and intelligence-sharing cut off, Zelenskyy has been left with little choice but to backtrack. His attempt to force Trump’s hand failed, and he now faces a difficult diplomatic position with fewer options for securing long-term U.S. support.
Talks in Saudi Arabia will determine the next steps for Ukraine’s post-war security. Whether Zelenskyy’s apology is genuine or simply a desperate attempt to regain favor with Washington remains an open question.
