By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Friday he doesn’t apologize for the blowup with U.S. President Donald J. Trump about the war in his nation.
Yet he also told U.S. broadcaster Fox News that he respects the American leader and believes the relationship could be salvaged.
“Yes, of course, because it’s relations more than two presidents. It’s the historical relations, strong relations between our people. And that’s why I always began…to thank your people from our people,” Zelenskyy said during an on the Fox News’ “Special Report” program.
“Of course, [we are] thankful to the president and, of course, to Congress. But first of all, to your people… we wanted to have all these strong relations where it counted. We will have it.”
When asked about the heated exchange, Zelenskyy said he was “not sure we did something bad” but conceded the dustup was “bad for both sides.”
His meeting with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance erupted into a history-making shouting match at the White House Friday that was seen worldwide.
Zelenskyy traveled to the U.S. to meet with Trump after the commander-in-chief said a peace negotiation to end the war between Ukraine and Russia is in its final stages.
NO DEAL
The Trump administration was also working to ink an agreement with Ukraine that would allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for support the U.S. offered the nation since the war broke out in 2022 as part of the peace deal.
The Oval Office throwdown led to a canceled press conference, a minerals deal off the table, and Trump asking the Ukrainian president to leave, a White House official confirmed.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reportedly showed him the door.
Later in the night, Trump ruled out an immediate resumption of talks with Zelensky. “Well, he says he wants it now. He wants to come back immediately, but I can’t do that,” Trump said Friday during his first public appearance after the confrontation.
Trump said that Zelensky had “overplayed his hand.” He accused the Ukrainian president of wanting to continue the war with Russia. “I want a ceasefire now,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He said he wanted the fighting in Ukraine to end “immediately.” Trump accused Zelensky of “looking for something I’m not looking for.”
Trump stated, “He just wants to keep fighting, fighting, fighting.”
Trump added that he had spoken often with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that Putin also “wants to put an end to it.” Zelenskyy responded, referring to Putin, that “no compromises should be made with a killer on our territory.”
SEEKING PEACE
In the interview with Fox News, Zelensky stressed that “no one wants peace as much as we do,” but he added that Ukraine needs to be in a strong position. He also said he wants Trump to be more on Ukraine’s side.
The exact numbers for financial assistance to Ukraine vary slightly depending on what is considered aid.
However, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. Congress has appropriated $175 billion for aid to Ukraine since 2022.
All European assistance to Ukraine between January 2022 and December 2024 totals roughly $138.7 billion, the Kiel Institute, a German-based think tank, estimates, with the U.S. contributing $119.7 billion in that same time frame.
After leaving the White House, Zelenskyy posted on X a social media message expressing gratitude to the U.S. for its support.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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