Will Zelenskyy apologize to Trump by Sunday?

Zelenskyy

Background: Trump-Zelenskyy Tensions and Oval Office Clash

Relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have been fraught, stemming back to Trump’s 2019 impeachment over a call with Zelenskyy and diverging views on the Russia-Ukraine war. Tensions spiked after Trump – newly inaugurated in 2025 – began pressuring Ukraine to swiftly negotiate peace with Russia and even called Zelenskyy a “dictator” for postponing elections during wartime (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). Zelenskyy publicly pushed back, saying Trump was parroting Russian disinformation – for example, refuting Trump’s false claim that Zelenskyy’s approval rating was 4%, noting it was actually much higher (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). This war of words culminated in a fiery Oval Office meeting on Feb. 28, 2025, which devolved into an unprecedented shouting match in front of reporters (Trump's Zelenskiy outburst a culmination of weeks of frustration | Reuters) (Trump's Zelenskiy outburst a culmination of weeks of frustration | Reuters). Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy as “ungrateful” for U.S. aid, accusing him of disrespecting his American hosts, and abruptly canceled a joint press conference (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner). Trump even ordered Zelenskyy’s delegation to leave and scuttled a planned Ukraine-U.S. minerals deal amid the acrimony (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). The clash alarmed U.S. allies, who overwhelmingly backed Zelenskyy and reminded Washington that Russia is the aggressor in this war (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News) (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News).

Calls for Zelenskyy to Apologize

In the wake of the Oval Office confrontation, Trump and his allies have signaled that Zelenskyy owes an apology. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Zelenskyy’s conduct in the meeting and publicly urged him to apologize for how things unfolded. “You guys only saw the end,” Rubio said, suggesting Zelenskyy’s off-camera behavior before the televised spat was the real issue. Rubio argued that Zelenskyy came in with an “antagonistic” approach that turned a diplomatic discussion into a “fiasco”, and he insisted Zelenskyy should “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco that it became” ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India). Rubio also questioned Zelenskyy’s commitment to peace, implying the Ukrainian leader’s reluctance to embrace Trump’s peace terms provoked the clash ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India). Similarly, Vice President Vance warned Zelenskyy against “badmouthing” Trump after Zelenskyy rebutted Trump’s remarks in the media, calling it “an atrocious way” to deal with the administration (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). Pro-Trump commentators have piled on: for example, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard praised Trump’s stance and suggested Zelenskyy’s “rude” attitude, not Trump’s actions, was to blame (with some arguing Zelenskyy should apologize or even step aside if he won’t make a deal) (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News) (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News). The expectation from Trump’s camp is that Zelenskyy should at minimum express contrition for publicly challenging Trump during a U.S. visit. Indeed, a senior Trump aide said the administration felt ambushed by Zelenskyy’s defiance and noted no reconciliation is likely unless Zelenskyy makes amends.

Zelenskyy’s Response: No Apology Given

Despite these pressures, President Zelenskyy has not apologized as of Sunday, and indications are he does not intend to. Immediately after the contentious meeting, Zelenskyy struck a conciliatory but resolute tone. He took to social media to thank the American people, President, and Congress for their support, reaffirming Ukraine’s desire for “a just and lasting peace” (World reacts to Zelenskiy-Trump Oval Office clash | Reuters) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). This statement of gratitude – “Thank you America… Thank you POTUS… Ukraine needs just and lasting peace” – was seen as Zelenskyy stressing respect and appreciation, without directly addressing the spat. When asked point-blank if he owed Trump an apology, Zelenskyy flatly declined the notion. In an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, Zelenskyy said “No” – he does not feel an apology from him is necessary (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner). “I respect the president and I respect the American people,” Zelenskyy explained, adding “I’m not sure that we did something bad” (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner). He stressed that he values the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and believes the bond between their peoples remains “strong,” implying that a single heated encounter shouldn’t derail long-term ties (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner). According to Baier, Zelenskyy expressed regret that the meeting grew so heated but stopped short of apologizing, instead emphasizing his deep gratitude for U.S. support and his respect for Trump’s office (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News). Ukrainian officials have likewise indicated that Zelenskyy stands firm on defending Ukraine’s interests and sees no cause to apologize for asserting his country’s needs, especially when Russia is the clear aggressor. So far, Zelenskyy has essentially “doubled down” on thanking allies and standing his ground, rather than offering any mea culpa to Trump (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India).

Trump’s Reaction and Latest Statements

Former President Trump, now back in office, has shown no sign of backing down either. After ejecting Zelenskyy from the White House, Trump took to his own social media platform to vent. He wrote that Zelenskyy had “disrespected” the United States during the meeting and said the Ukrainian leader could return to the White House only “when he is ready for peace.” (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump) This message, posted on Truth Social, effectively set a condition that Zelenskyy concede to Trump’s peace demands (which critics say favor Moscow) before relations can normalize. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Ukraine should strike a deal with Russia quickly – even controversially asserting that Ukraine “should never have started” the war, a remark echoing Russian talking points and which Zelenskyy angrily refuted (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters) (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). In public comments, Trump has continued to frame Zelenskyy as intransigent. He told reporters that Zelenskyy “did not look like he wanted peace,” while lauding his own approach as bold peace-making (World reacts to Zelenskiy-Trump Oval Office clash | Reuters) (World reacts to Zelenskiy-Trump Oval Office clash | Reuters). Trump allies echo this line: Rubio defended Trump’s outburst as that of a lifelong dealmaker frustrated by Zelenskyy’s stance, and even floated unverified claims about Zelenskyy’s “off-camera” behavior to justify Trump’s reaction ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India). On the other hand, a few U.S. lawmakers – a very small minority in Trump’s party – have gently criticized Trump’s handling of the episode, worrying it undermined U.S. leadership and played into Vladimir Putin’s hands (Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Demands Volodymyr Zelensky Apologize for ‘Antagonizing’ Donald Trump) (World reacts to Zelenskiy-Trump Oval Office clash | Reuters). By and large, however, Trump’s political base has backed him, reinforcing his demand that Zelenskyy show more deference. The bottom line as of Sunday is that Trump appears to be waiting for Zelenskyy to bend. His administration has even hinted at tangible consequences: one senior official said the Oval Office blow-up would accelerate a U.S. probe into possible misuse of aid to Ukraine, signaling a tougher stance on assistance going forward (Zelenskiy, Trump clash will accelerate US probe of fraud in Ukraine aide, senior official says | Reuters). This adds pressure on Kyiv, but so far Zelenskyy remains unapologetic. Both leaders have dug in – Trump insisting Ukraine must “be more thankful” and compliant (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner), and Zelenskyy standing firm that defending his country is not something to apologize for.

Outlook and Conclusion

As of Sunday, President Zelenskyy has issued no apology to Donald Trump, nor is one expected from him under the current circumstances. Zelenskyy’s position is that he showed respect and did nothing wrong in defending his nation’s interests, and he continues to thank the U.S. for its support even after the clash (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). On the other side, Trump and his allies continue to demand contrition from Zelenskyy, framing it as a necessary step if U.S.-Ukraine relations are to move forward on Trump’s terms ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). The call for an apology is tied to a broader context: Trump’s push for a negotiated end to the war (even at the risk of pressuring Ukraine to cede ground) and his expectation of personal loyalty or deference from foreign partners. The Oval Office incident – unprecedented in its public confrontation – has only heightened these dynamics. For now, no apology has been made, and none appears imminent. Instead, each side has issued statements reinforcing their own perspective: Zelenskyy expressing gratitude but firm that Ukraine’s “just and lasting peace” can’t be achieved by one-sided concessions, and Trump expressing indignation and hinting at withholding support until he sees a change in Zelenskyy’s “attitude” (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump) (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner). International observers note that this standoff puts Ukraine in a difficult position; however, Zelenskyy is buoyed by strong European support and domestic backing at home (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News) (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). In summary, Zelenskyy has not apologized to Trump, and given his recent remarks, he is unlikely to do so. The only “apology” being discussed is the one Trump’s camp is demanding – a demand Zelenskyy so far politely refuses, even as he emphasizes respect for the U.S. and appeals for continued solidarity (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India). Both leaders’ latest statements underscore this impasse: Trump insists Zelenskyy “was not ready for Peace” and needs to make amends, while Zelenskyy maintains “we did nothing bad” and thus sees no apology necessary at this time (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump) (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner).

Sources: Recent news reports and official statements have been used to compile this summary. Key details come from Reuters, which reported on the Feb. 28 Oval Office clash and its global fallout (Trump's Zelenskiy outburst a culmination of weeks of frustration | Reuters) (World reacts to Zelenskiy-Trump Oval Office clash | Reuters), as well as Trump’s earlier remarks labeling Zelenskyy a “dictator” (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters). The Ukrainian perspective is reflected in President Zelenskyy’s own words to Fox News (“I do not owe [Trump] an apology”) (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) and his social media posts thanking the U.S. after the meeting (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). Statements from the Trump administration are noted, including Secretary of State Rubio’s call for an apology in a CNN interview ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) and Trump’s posts accusing Zelenskyy of disrespect (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump). These sources provide a factual account of the situation as of March 2, 2025, detailing why an apology was demanded and how both sides have responded. Each citation below corresponds to specific reporting or quotes that inform this answer:

• Reuters – description of the Oval Office confrontation and context (Trump's Zelenskiy outburst a culmination of weeks of frustration | Reuters) (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters).
• Reuters – Trump’s “dictator” accusation and Zelenskyy’s rebuttal about disinformation (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters) (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters).
• Reuters – VP Vance’s warning to Zelenskyy about “badmouthing” Trump (Trump tells 'dictator' Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine | Reuters).
• Washington Examiner (via Fox News interview) – Zelenskyy stating he does not owe Trump an apology (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner).
• Kyiv Independent – Zelenskyy’s public thank-you message after the meeting and Trump’s Truth Social reaction (Zelenskyy “disrespected” the U.S., can return “when he is ready for peace”) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump).
• Times of India – Marco Rubio’s demand for an apology, blaming Zelenskyy’s conduct for the meeting “fiasco” ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India) ('You guys only saw the end': Did Zelenskyy’s off-camera actions lead to oval office showdown? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he should apologize - The Times of India).
• Fox News / Bret Baier – noting Zelenskyy regretted the incident but did not apologize (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News).
• “World reacts” Reuters piece – showing broad allied support for Zelenskyy in the fallout (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News) (Europe backs Zelenskyy over Trump following White House flare up | Fox News).

These and other reports provide the basis for the information above, documenting that as of Sunday, Zelenskyy has issued no apology to Trump, and detailing the surrounding circumstances and statements from both leaders (Zelensky says he does not owe Trump an apology for Oval Office meltdown - Washington Examiner) (Zelensky thanks US after tense meeting with Trump).