Speaker Mike Johnson is calling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to return to Washington to “make things right” with President Donald Trump following their fiery meeting in the Oval Office last week.
The Louisiana Republican praised Zelensky for asserting that he does not want “an endless war” and for expressing gratitude for U.S. support in Ukraine’s war with Russia.
This comes after the shouting debacle at the White House last week between Zelensky, Vice President JD Vance, and Trump. The meeting culminated in Zelensky’s abrupt departure from the White House, with Trump later declaring an end to U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
“I’m heartened by the development that President Zelensky has indicated that he does want to do this deal after all,” Johnson said Tuesday in the Capitol. “I certainly encourage that to happen. He needs to come and make right what happened last week—the shocking developments in the Oval Office.”
Johnson said mending the relationship would create “a win-win-win scenario for everybody involved,” referring to a potential mineral agreement between the countries, which he described as “the best deal that could be offered” to assist Ukraine.
Shortly after the contentious White House meeting, Johnson voiced strong support for Trump’s handling of the situation. During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, the speaker, along with other lawmakers, suggested Zelensky might need to resign.
“He needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s position marks a shift from his previous calls for increased aid to Ukraine last year. At the time, he nearly lost his speakership after putting a supplemental funding package on the floor, prompting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to attempt to oust him as speaker.
Zelensky took to social media on Tuesday to signal his willingness to mend fences.
“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” he posted on X.
The Ukrainian president acknowledged that his discussion with Trump did not go as planned, writing, “It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right.”
He also reiterated his gratitude for U.S. support, specifically highlighting how “things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins.” Additionally, he indicated that Ukraine is “ready to sign [the mineral deal] at any time and in any convenient format.”
While many Republican lawmakers have backed Trump’s criticisms of Zelensky, arguing that the Ukrainian leader has not shown sufficient gratitude for U.S. support, some GOP members have continued to express strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
“This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine. I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) posted on X on Saturday.
