“Backstage” European pressures on Zelinski to apologize to Trump

The American Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that British and French officials encouraged Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski to apologize to his American counterpart Donald Trump, after the verbal quarrels that took place between them in the White House.

“The British and the French advised the Ukrainians the best way to write a public recognition of the mistake,” the newspaper said, quoting officials.

In the details, the source explained that after the sharp debate between Zelinski and Trump in the Oval Office last month, Zellinski traveled to London, where he was warmly received by British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer. “But once he entered the British government headquarters, the meeting was completely different.”

He added that during a special meeting, Starmer presented a more serious message to Zelinski, in which he said: “It is time to fix relations with Trump.”

The Wall Street Journal confirmed, according to the familiar officials, that Starmer urged the Ukrainian president to direct his efforts to push Trump to confront the Kremlin instead of focusing on Kiev..

Britain and France Zelinski encouraged public apology to the American president, and provided advice on how to formulate this apology.

“The concentration of European Ukraine allies, who spent weeks in the arrangement of meetings with Trump, was aimed at ensuring that the White House understood the need to maintain support for Ukraine and not allow Russia to continue to bomb the country. But after the exciting meeting in the White House, these diplomatic efforts seemed to the wind.”

She added that in the days that followed, the pressure on Zilinski increased, as his European allies, led by France and Britain, pushed to take positions that were unexpected since the beginning of the war in 2022, demanding concessions affected by American requests.

European officials have indicated that pressure on Zelinski is a prominent shift in politics, as European leaders have previously insisted that Ukraine should determine its fate, but now it seems that Zelinski needs to push the process more forward.

The American envoy, Steve Whitchov, had confirmed that Zellinski has apologized to President Donald Trump. “Zelinski sent a message to President Trump, where he apologized for what happened in the Oval Office“.

The American envoy added that this step was important, pointing out that “wide discussions took place between the Ukrainian, American and European teams concerned with the subject.”

Mocturies had occurred between Zelinski, Trump and his deputy JD Vans against the backdrop of Washington’s position on the war between Russia and Ukraine in the Oval Office.