Zelensky Breaks Silence After Riff With Trump, Vance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken out after receiving a sharp rebuke from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during a meeting in the Oval Office.

Following the encounter, Zelensky turned to X to publicly convey his gratitude to the United States for its continued assistance in Ukraine’s fight against Russia — this after Vice President Vance called him out for failing to say “thank you” during the visit.

“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” Zelensky posted.

Shortly after, the Ukrainian leader appeared on Fox News, where he gave an interview with Bret Baier.

“I’m very thankful to Americans for all your support, you did a lot. I’m thankful to President Trump and to Congress [for] bipartisan support and I was always very thankful, from all our people. You helped us a lot from the very beginning,” he said during the interview.

Zelensky stressed the importance of clear and honest communication, adding, “We have to be very honest and we have to be very direct to understand each other.”

When asked directly if he felt he owed President Trump an apology, Zelensky responded, “No, I respect the president and I respect the American people and I think we have to be very open and very honest and I’m not sure that we did something bad.”

Even so, Zelensky expressed hope that his working relationship with President Trump could be restored and reiterated his desire to secure a peace agreement with Russia.

“We are ready for peace, but we have to be in strong position,” he explained. “What does it mean? Just to know that our army is strong, that our partners are with us, and that we have security guarantees.”

Zelensky also referenced the rare earth minerals agreement between Ukraine and the U.S., which had been expected to be signed that Friday, but was subsequently canceled following the tense Oval Office exchange. He described that agreement as “the first step to security guarantees.”

However, he made it clear that Ukraine’s commitment to defending itself remains unwavering. “But I respect my soldiers and our people, our civilians who work and support our warriors. I can’t say, ‘Just stop.’ Nobody will stop, because [everybody’s] afraid that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will come back tomorrow,” Zelensky stated.

“We want just and lasting peace. It’s true. We want security guarantees,” he added.

During the conversation, Baier also brought up comments from Senator Lindsey Graham, who suggested Zelensky should consider stepping down as Ukraine’s leader.

“So [Sen. Lindsey Graham] says you need to consider resigning. Is that on the table?” Baier asked.

Zelensky responded by emphasizing that such a decision belongs solely to the Ukrainian people. “I don’t know if he will be happy after my words. This decision can do only people of Ukraine,” he said.

Baier followed up: “You’re not going to step down to do a peace deal?”

Zelensky was firm: “No, I was always ready. I’m not sure that it’s a good idea for such proposals. But anyway, I always said if the United States will support NATO, I think that it’s enough for Ukraine.”

He continued, “So I think I did all I had to do, and if somebody is not happy with me, OK. But between us, yes, Americans vote for American president. Each European country votes for their president, and only Ukrainians,” Zelensky said.

Adding a personal note, Zelensky addressed the senator directly: “With all respect to Lindsey, if I can say Lindsey, we know each other, yes, and only Ukrainians.”

The challenge Zelensky faces is that, ever since the war with Russia broke out, he invoked martial law, effectively preventing Ukraine from holding elections — meaning the public currently has no way to formally decide on his leadership.