Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to apologise for his clash with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office but insists the relationship can be repaired.
Mr Zelensky left the White House after the meeting collapsed when JD Vance accused him of “disrespecting” the US. Mr Trump backed Vance’s claim, warning that Kyiv was “gambling with World War Three.”
Speaking to Fox News later on Friday, Mr Zelensky said, “I’m not sure we did something bad. I think maybe some things we have to discuss out of media.”
The two leaders were set to sign a vital minerals deal, but tensions escalated when Mr Zelensky repeatedly raised the issue of US security guarantees in a future peace agreement with Russia. As a result, he left without signing the deal. A senior White House official later confirmed that Mr Trump has no plans to revive the agreement.
Meanwhile, European leaders have rallied behind Mr Zelensky following the heated White House exchange. Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed his “unwavering support” for Ukraine and revealed that he had spoken with both Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump.
Sir Bill Browder, a former major foreign investor in Russia before being expelled by Vladimir Putin, claimed that Mr Trump deliberately “blew up” the meeting to save face after realising that Putin is not serious about a peace deal.
“It’s been obvious for weeks that Putin has no interest in a peace deal,” Sir Bill told The Independent. “The easiest way for Trump to save face from his promise to end the war is to blow up his meeting with Zelensky and then blame him for the breakdown in negotiations. That’s exactly what happened yesterday. Now the onus is on the UK and the EU to support Ukraine because the US will back out for sure.”
Putin has claimed he is open to peace talks but continues to insist on maximalist demands, including denying Ukraine security guarantees and forcing Kyiv to surrender land that Russia does not even occupy.
Following the tense exchange, Mr Zelensky urged the world not to forget Ukraine. In a Telegram post, he shared a video of a meeting with Ukrainian citizens in Washington.
Beneath the video, he wrote: “It is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets about it, neither during the war nor after. It is important for people in Ukraine to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world.
“Thank you for your support in this difficult time, for all your efforts for the sake of Ukraine and Ukrainians and for your help – not only diplomatic and financial, but also political and prayerful.”
