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 a meeting collapsed when JD Vance accused him of having “disrespected” the US. Mr Trump reiterated the vice president’s claim, adding 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 pair were due to sign a vital minerals deal, but Mr Trump and Mr Vance lashed out after the Ukrainian president repeatedly brought up the issue of US security guarantees as part of a future peace agreement with Russia. Mr Zelensky left with the deal unsigned. A senior White House official said on Friday evening that Mr Trump has no interest in reviving the minerals deal.
Meanwhile, European leaders have rallied to support Mr Zelensky after Trump and Vance launched their attack during critical White House talks. Sir Keir Starmer expressed his “unwavering support” for Ukraine and said he had spoken with both Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump over the phone.
Sir Bill Browder, formerly the largest foreign investor in Russia before being expelled by Vladimir Putin, claimed that Mr Trump deliberately “blew up” his meeting with Mr Zelensky to save face after realising that the Russian leader 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 suggested he is open to peace talks but has continued with maximalist demands that undermine any chance of a plausible deal. These include no security guarantees for Ukraine and forcing Kyiv to sign away swathes of land Russia does not even occupy.
Following the tense exchange, Mr Zelensky urged the world not to forget about Ukraine. In a message on Telegram, he posted a video of a meeting in Washington with Ukrainian citizens.
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.”
