Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a formal letter of apology to US President Donald Trump following a heated argument during their Oval Office meeting last month, as confirmed by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The apology comes after tensions flared between the two leaders over US diplomatic efforts with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News, Witkoff emphasized that Zelensky’s apology has sparked renewed discussions between the US, Ukraine, and European officials regarding the conflict and potential peace agreements. “It was an important step, and there’s been a lot of discussion between our teams and the Ukrainians and the Europeans who are relevant to this discussion as well,” Witkoff noted.
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President Trump acknowledged the receipt of Zelensky’s letter during a recent address to Congress, though he did not specifically reference the apology. Zelensky had previously described their Oval Office clash as “regrettable” but had stopped short of issuing a formal apology at the time. The disagreement revolved around the US push for diplomacy with Russia, which Zelensky openly questioned during the meeting.
The fallout from the argument led to a temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine, as well as delays in key negotiations on mineral deals and intelligence sharing between the two countries. Despite the letter of apology, significant hurdles remain as both sides prepare for peace talks in Saudi Arabia later this week, with discussions expected to focus on territorial security and military aid.
Witkoff stressed the importance of transparency and compromise in the upcoming negotiations, emphasizing that resolving the conflict requires all parties to clearly outline their expectations. The talks are seen as a critical step in bringing an end to the three-year war with Russia.
