During an interview on February 28, 2025, at the Fox News studios, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was resolute in his stance, refusing to apologize for a much-discussed confrontation with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance that took place just hours earlier in the Oval Office. When questioned by Fox News’ Bret Baier on whether he owed Trump an apology, Zelenskyy calmly replied, “No,” despite Trump’s claims of feeling disrespected during their exchange.
The discussion, Zelenskyy admitted, was not ideal for either side. However, he expressed concern over Ukraine’s defense capabilities should Trump decide to cut aid amidst the ongoing Russian aggression. “That’s why we’re here,” he mentioned, emphasizing the importance of continued support. He acknowledged the assistance from the U.S. thus far, expressing heartfelt thanks to both Trump and the American populace, stating, “You helped us a lot. From the very beginning, during three years of full-scale invasion, you helped us to survive.”
Tensions had escalated earlier at the White House when Zelenskyy countered Vance’s suggestion that Ukraine pursue peace with Russia through diplomatic means. He highlighted Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s history of breaking agreements. “He killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners,” Zelenskyy remarked, probing Vance’s definition of diplomacy.
Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not publicly thanking Trump, and Trump himself warned of potential massive casualties and a risk of “World War III” if a peace deal was not negotiated. Subsequently, Zelenskyy left the White House without finalizing an agreement to provide the U.S. with access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine—a move Zelenskyy viewed as essential for securing U.S. backing should Russia breach any future peace deal.
In his conversation with Baier, Zelenskyy expressed regret over the public nature of his dispute with Trump and Vance. He conveyed a desire for robust diplomatic ties, saying, “We are thankful and sorry for this. I mean this, we wanted very much to have strong relations.” Pressed about whether he should apologize to Trump, Zelenskyy maintained, “I think that we have to be very open and very honest. And I’m not sure that we did something bad.” He remained optimistic about repairing relations with Trump, affirming, “Yes, of course,” when asked if reconciliation was possible.
Just before the interview, Trump accused Zelenskyy of exceeding his boundaries. “He’s looking for something that I’m not looking for,” Trump stated outside the White House. “He’s looking to go on and fight, fight, fight. We’re looking to end the death.”
Trump’s remarks were met with strong reactions from European and NATO leaders, who reiterated their dedication to supporting Ukraine, making it clear via social media. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas emphasized Europe’s increasing responsibility in assisting Ukraine, stating, “We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor,” adding that the situation highlighted the need for new leadership in the free world, with Europe ready to step up.
