March 3, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing calls to publicly apologize for his conduct during a tense meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday, before negotiations on a rare earths deal between Ukraine and the United States can resume.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Fox News, citing an unnamed American official, Zelensky must publicly acknowledge his demeanor during the confrontation in the Oval Office if any progress is to be made on the minerals agreement that had been in the works prior to the altercation. This agreement, which would allow the United States access to Ukraine’s natural resources, is currently stalled.
In a report on Monday, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy described a significant disconnect between the White House and Kiev, claiming that Zelensky’s actions have derailed the negotiations. A senior official confirmed that no further progress would be made on the deal until Zelensky issues an explicit public apology for his behavior.
However, Zelensky remains firm in his position, telling the BBC on Sunday that he is open to continuing a “constructive dialogue” with the US and is still willing to sign the agreement. Zelensky, however, has rejected the demand for an apology, telling Fox News on Monday that he does not believe he owes Trump or Vance an apology.
In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Zelensky for wasting time and suggested that he must take responsibility for turning the meeting into a “fiasco.”
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz echoed growing frustration with Zelensky’s stance, calling him the “problem” and accusing him of refusing to engage in peace talks. In interviews on CNN and Fox News, Waltz underscored the urgency of reaching a resolution, warning that Zelensky’s motivations, whether personal or political, could hinder efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The White House meeting turned heated, with Trump accusing Zelensky of failing to show gratitude for US support. The former president also remarked that without America’s assistance, Ukraine would have already lost to Russia.
