President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded after being pushed by Fox News over whether he feels he owes President Donald Trump an apology.
The Ukrainian leader’s answers come after he was seen leaving the White House earlier than scheduled after discussions between the two leaders descended into chaos in front of the media.
Meeting Between The Two Leaders Breaks Down
At the height of the argument, Trump admonished Zelenskyy for interrupting him, stating: “What you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”
Vice President Vance also criticized Zelenskyy’s conduct, stating: “Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Vance also confronted Zelenskyy over whether the Ukrainian president had “said thank you” during the meeting.
“You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October, offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country,” the VP added.
At one point, Trump tells Zelenskyy: “You either make a deal or we are out.”
“You’re gambling with World War III and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country,” Trump stated.
The meeting then came to an end within minutes of Trump telling Zelenskyy: “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.”
Following the heated exchange, both leaders offered brief statements on social media, in which, Trump stated: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. [Zelenskyy] disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Zelenskyy wrote in his statement: “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people.
“Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
Zelenskyy Is Pressed For An Apology
Following their meeting at the White House, President Zelenskyy appeared on Fox News, where he was interviewed by chief political anchor Bret Baier.
During the segment, Baier asked “Do you think you owe an apology to President Trump.”
Skirting the question, Zelenskyy thanked Fox News for the invitation to appear on the show, and voiced his gratitude to the American people for “all their support”.
Zelenskyy also stated that he was thankful to President Trump and the US Congress. “You helped us to survive,” Zelenskyy said, before adding: “We are strategic partners, and even in such tough talks, we have to be very honest and we have to be very direct to understand each other.”
The Ukrainian leader then stated once again that despite Trump’s push for peace, “nobody wants to finish [the war] more” than Ukraine.
Following the two-minute impassioned speech, Baier once again stated: “So, I’m not hearing from you, Mr. President, a thought that you own [President Trump] an apology?”
In response, Zelensky once again stated: “I respect the president and I respect the American people”, before making the eight-word declaration: “I’m not sure that we did something bad”.
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Zelensky then went on to suggest that he and President Trump should perhaps continue their discussions away from the media’s cameras.
Zelenskyy Issues Another Statement
Following his appearance on Fox News, President Zelenskyy took to social media to share a photo from his time on the set, as well as offering a lengthy statement to the American people. Here it is in full:
“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion.
“America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.
“It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival.
“As President Reagan once said, “Peace is not just the absence of war.” We’re talking about just and lasting peace—freedom, justice, and human rights for everyone. A ceasefire won’t work with Putin. He has broken ceasefires 25 times over the last ten years. A real peace is the only solution.
“We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for 3 years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.
“I cannot change Ukraine’s position on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and that’s the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiation table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and our partners are with us.
“We want peace. That’s why I came to the United States, and visited President Trump. The deal on minerals is just a first step toward security guarantees and getting closer to peace. Our situation is tough, but we can’t just stop fighting and not having guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow.
“It will be difficult without the U.S. support. But we can’t lose our will, our freedom, or our people. We’ve seen how Russians came to our homes and killed many people. Nobody wants another wave of occupation. If we cannot be accepted to NATO, we need some clear structure of security guarantees from our allies in the U.S.
“Europe is ready for contingencies and to help fund our large army. We also need the U.S. role in defining security guarantees—what kind, what volume, and when. Once these guarantees are in place, we can talk with Russia, Europe, and the U.S. about diplomacy. War alone is too long, and we don’t have enough weapons to push them out entirely.
“When someone talks about losses, every single life matters. Russia invaded our homes, killed our people, and tried to erase us. This isn’t just about territories or numbers—it’s about real lives. That’s what we need everyone to understand.
“I want the U.S. to stand more firmly on our side. This is not just a war between our two countries; Russia brought this war onto our territory and into our homes. They are wrong because they disrespected our territorial integrity.
“All Ukrainians want to hear a strong U.S. position on our side. It’s understandable the U.S. might look for dialogue with Putin. But the U.S. has always spoken about ‘peace through strength.’ And together we can take strong steps against Putin.
“Our relationship with the American President is more than just two leaders; it’s a historic and solid bond between our peoples. That’s why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation.
“American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”
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