Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has apologized to former U.S. President Donald Trump for their heated Oval Office exchange, U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said in a Fox News interview on March 10, reports Kyiv Independent.
"Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office. I think that was an important step," Witkoff said, referring to the February 28 confrontation that strained U.S.-Ukraine relations.
The fallout from the dispute led to a temporary freeze on U.S. military aid to Ukraine and a pause in intelligence sharing. Although Witkoff claimed that defensive intelligence was still being provided, the diplomatic chill raised concerns about the broader impact on Ukraine’s war effort.
Following the clash, senior White House officials reportedly pushed for an apology. On March 4, Zelensky released a statement calling the incident "regrettable" and affirming his willingness to work under Trump’s "strong leadership" toward peace. It remains unclear whether Witkoff was referring to that statement or a separate private communication between the two leaders.
The first high-level talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials since the incident are set to take place in Saudi Arabia on March 11. Witkoff expressed optimism that the discussions could help reset relations and possibly revive a minerals trade deal between Washington and Kyiv.
"I would like to describe it as progress ... I would hope that there's a deal," he said, adding that there is an "expectation" of "substantial progress" during the negotiations.
Security guarantees for Ukraine will be a key topic in the discussions. "These are not complicated things," Witkoff said. "They just need to be put on the table, and everybody needs to be transparent about their expectations. Then we can begin to have a discussion around how we compromise."
The diplomatic rift has drawn criticism from within Trump’s own party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned that cutting off aid to Ukraine mid-war would be "worse than Afghanistan." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that if the Saudi talks yield positive results, Washington may restore military assistance to Ukraine.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
