Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has evaded a question on the possibility of offering an apology to his US counterpart Donald Trump after the two were engaged in a heated debate publicly in the White House over the deal to stop the war between Moscow and Kyiv.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy sidestepped the question of whether he would offer an apology to Trump, who almost berated the Ukraine President.
“No, I respect the President and I respect American people,” said Zelenskyy and added, “I think that we have to be very open and very honest, and I’m not sure that we did something bad.”
But Zelenskyy said the deteriorated relationship between him and Trump can be salvaged even after the verbal spat in front of a packed room of journalists.
“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 told Fox News.
“Of course, thankful to the President, and, of course, to Congress, but first of all, to your people. Your people helped save our people… we wanted very much to have all these strong relations, and where it counted, we will have it,” he added.
Verbal Spat
According to video footage of the press appearance going viral, Zelenskyy was caught in a verbal spat with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
While Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful”, Trump said he is “gambling with World War Three”.
President Zelenskyy responded in equal measure, saying, “We are in our own country, and we have stayed strong all this time. We have even thanked you for it (your support)”.
While Zelenskyy left the meeting after the heated exchange, Trump said the Ukraine president can come back to the White House “when he is ready for peace.”
The meeting devolved into a shouting match, according to CNN.
Later, in a social media statement, Trump said, “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want an advantage, I want PEACE.”
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” the US President said.
(With inputs from IBNS)
