Volodymyr Zelensky is receiving a crash course in how to grovel for Donald Trump’s favor after the Ukrainian president’s disastrous Oval Office sit-down last week, according to a report.
His teachers are seasoned Trump-handlers: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, the New York Times reported. The two men are giving Zelensky advice on how most effectively to flatter Trump, inside sources told the Times.
Their advice comes after the dramatic shouting match between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, which has led Trump to pause aid for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.
ADVERTISEMENT
During the meeting, Trump and Vance both complained that Zelensky had not adequately offered his thanks for America’s support. Afterwards, Trump demanded an apology.
Although in the immediate wake of the confrontation Zelensky said he didn’t think he had anything to apologize for, on Tuesday, after America paused the aid, he struck a different tone.
“It is regrettable that it happened this way,” the Ukrainian wrote on X. “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
He also vowed his commitment to brokering peace, starting with a mineral rights deal between Ukraine and America, which Trump had pulled amid the spat.
“We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively,” he said. “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
British and French inside sources told the Times that Zelensky’s course-correction came after talking with Starmer and Macron, each of whom had White House visits days before Zelensky’s that were far more amicable.
A French team even helped Ukrainian officials iron out the precise language of Zelensky’s fawning statement, a senior Macron aide told the Times.
So far, the flattery seems to have improved Trump’s opinion of Zelensky.
Directly after the contentious meeting, Trump took to Truth Social to write, “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
In his address to Congress on Tuesday night, however, Trump beamed as he read Zelensky’s new statement, which the Ukrainian also sent to him in the form of a letter.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said.
