Trump Demanding an ‘Explicit Public Apology’ from Zelensky Before Proceeding With Ukraine Deal, Fox’s Peter Doocy Reports

President Donald Trump is reportedly demanding an “explicit public apology” from his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky before proceeding with a deal which would grant the U.S. access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine.

According to Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy, Trump is seeking public contrition from Zelensky following the chaotic Oval Office meeting between the two leaders on Friday.

“I have been told by a senior official here that nothing’s going to happen with this minerals deal until Zelensky goes in front of cameras and makes an explicit public apology for the way that he behaved himself, behaved in the Oval Office with that meeting,” Doocy said during Monday’s edition of the Faulkner Focus.

The president’s public comments on Truth Social, Monday, seem to track with Fox’s reporting — as he blasted Zelensky for saying that the end of the war with Russia is “very, very far away.”

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote.

Zelensky, for his part, seems to believe he’s still on solid footing with the U.S. and Trump. In public comments earlier Monday, he declared his belief that the minerals deal can proceed without any strings attached.

“We are not making any steps back,” Zelensky said. “This is our policy to be consistent regardless of what happened before. We are constructive if we agree that it will be signed from our side, we are ready to sign. I honestly think the United States will be ready as well. Yeah, maybe they need time to analyze some things.”

Fox’s Doocy, though, drew on his reporting to throw cold water on that sentiment — after Zelensky’s comments were played during his live report.

“Yeah, well, good luck,” he said tongue-in-cheek.

Watch above, via Fox News.