WASHINGTON – Hours after his heated exchange with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office which scuttled a planned economic partnership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined in a Fox News interview to apologize to Trump.
The testy exchange began with Vice President JD Vance praising Trump for negotiating directly with Russia over ending the war that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion and occupation of Ukraine. Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s prior actions have shown it to be an untrustworthy diplomatic partner, to which Vance responded that the Ukrainian president was being “disrespectful” to Trump.
In an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel’s Special Report, Zelenskyy at first sidestepped the question of whether he owed Trump an apology.
“I’m very thankful to Americans for all your support. You did a lot. I’m thankful to President Trump and to Congress for bipartisan support,” he said. “You helped us a lot from the very beginning, during three years of full-scale innovation, you helped us to survive.”
Pressed again, he said: “No, I respect the president and I respect American people… I think that we have to be very open and very honest, and I’m not sure that we did something bad.”
Zelenskyy was in town to sign an “economic partnership” deal which would have given U.S. access to critical minerals in Ukraine. Trump has long said he wanted the deal in exchange for American military support.
Shortly into the meeting, it devolved into a shouting match between Vice President JD Vance, Trump and Zelenskyy. The U.S. president and vice president accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for American support for Ukraine. The conversation became particularly charged when Trump accused the Ukrainian president of prolonging the war while being in a weak diplomatic position and using American resources.
“You don’t have the cards right now. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump said. “What you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country that’s backed you.”
Soon after the fiery meeting, Zelenskyy left the White House. A planned lunch and a bilateral meeting were both cancelled.
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump said he’s “determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved.”
Ukraine’s supporters in Congress took issue with Trump and Vance’s behavior during the meeting.
“President Trump and his administration continue to embarrass America on the world stage,” said House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, D-N.Y., in a statement. “Today’s White House meeting with the President of Ukraine was appalling and will only serve to further embolden Vladimir Putin, a brutal dictator. The United States must not reward Russian aggression and continue to appease Putin.
“For three years, President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have stood on the side of democracy, freedom and truth,” Jeffries continued. “Their success is in the national security interests of the United States. We should stand with Ukraine until victory is won.”
