Washington DC [US], March 11: US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy apologized to Trump in a letter following a heated argument during an Oval Office meeting. Witkoff shared the information on Monday (local time), as reported by The Hill.
“Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office,” Witkoff stated. He further mentioned that the apology was a significant step forward and that there had been ongoing discussions between US, Ukrainian, and European officials in connection with the matter.
Zelenskyy’s apology letter followed a tense interaction between the two leaders in the Oval Office. Although initially, Zelenskyy had described the encounter as a “regrettable” meeting, he refrained from offering an official apology. The letter marked a shift in tone as the leaders worked towards mending their relationship.
Witkoff noted that the exchange of the letter and the apology was a positive development. During his joint address to Congress, Trump confirmed the receipt of the letter and appreciated Zelenskyy’s gesture, which came just days after the US had halted military assistance to Ukraine.
The situation follows a series of diplomatic efforts between US and Ukrainian officials, with a meeting planned this week in Saudi Arabia to continue peace negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Despite tensions, Zelenskyy is maintaining diplomatic efforts, with a brief meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the Crown Prince’s support for Ukraine and his perspective on global affairs, stating, “I had a good meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. I am grateful for his wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine. It was especially important to hear words of confidence in Ukraine’s future.”
While Zelenskyy will not attend the upcoming meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his team will attempt to smooth over the differences stemming from the difficult visit to Washington, which included the confrontation with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.