U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded an apology from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday night, accusing him of turning a White House meeting into a “fiasco” that undermined President Donald Trump’s push for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on “The Source,” Rubio detailed the tense Oval Office clash earlier that day, where a discussion over a mineral rights deal devolved into a shouting match, exposing deep rifts between the two leaders.
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Rubio, speaking hours after the confrontation, expressed frustration over Zelenskyy’s conduct. “I do [think he owes an apology], because you guys only saw the end,” he told Collins. “You don’t see all the things that led up to this.” He outlined a weeks-long effort by the Trump administration to broker a deal tying U.S. economic investment in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to peace negotiations with Russia—a plan Trump has framed as a security guarantee through mutual interest. “We explained very clearly what our plan is here, which is we want to get the Russians to a negotiating table,” Rubio said. “That was all understood.”
The meeting, attended by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy, unraveled when the Ukrainian leader questioned the viability of diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rubio pinpointed the moment the discussion “went off the rails”: Zelenskyy’s challenge to Vance—“What kind of diplomacy are you talking about?”—which Trump and Vance took as an affront.
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“There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic,” Rubio said, arguing that Zelenskyy’s public pushback, including maximalist demands like Russian reparations, sabotaged a delicate diplomatic effort. “You’re not going to get people to the table,” he added, noting Trump’s deal-making background.
Collins pressed Rubio on what specific apology he sought. “Apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became,” Rubio replied. “It’s unfortunate that was supposed to be this way, but that’s the path he chose.”
He suggested Zelenskyy’s actions cast doubt on his commitment to peace, a sentiment Trump echoed on Truth Social, writing that Zelenskyy “disrespected the United States” and isn’t “ready for Peace if America is involved.”
The interview turned to Zelenskyy’s core argument: that Putin’s history of violating agreements necessitates ironclad U.S. security guarantees. Rubio acknowledged his own past statements labeling Putin untrustworthy—“I’ve said this repeatedly”—but stressed a “trust but verify” approach, a phrase Trump has used. “How else is this war going to end?” he asked, dismissing European strategies as impractical. “One foreign minister told me … the war goes on for another year, and Russia will feel so weakened they’ll beg for peace. That’s another year of killing.”
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Rubio defended Trump’s resolve, noting the president’s repeated praise for Ukrainian bravery while insisting on a practical endgame. “The only person on the planet who is actively trying to bring an end to this conflict is named Donald Trump,” he said. Yet, when Collins asked if the Trump-Zelenskyy relationship could be salvaged, Rubio was cautiously optimistic but firm. “Anything is possible,” he said, “but it has to go back to the point that President Trump is interested in … bringing about an enduring and lasting peace.”
The fallout from Friday’s meeting has left the mineral deal in limbo and U.S.-Ukraine ties strained, with Zelenskyy later telling Fox News he still favored the agreement but sought clarity on security provisions. Rubio, however, painted the Oval Office episode as a culmination of frustrations.
“This agreement could have been signed five days ago,” he said. For now, the Secretary of State’s call for an apology underscores a pivotal moment in Trump’s foreign policy, as his administration navigates a war-weary ally and a high-stakes quest for peace.
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