A special envoy for former United States President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an apology letter to Trump following a heated exchange in the Oval Office.

Steve Witkoff, speaking on Fox News, said on Monday that Zelensky apologised to the former US president for the public dispute, calling it a "progressive step" in US-Ukraine relations.

"Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologised for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office," Witkoff stated. "I think it was an important step, and there has been a lot of discussion between our teams, the Ukrainians, and the Europeans who are relevant to this matter."

His remarks come ahead of peace negotiations scheduled in Saudi Arabia this week, where US and Ukrainian officials will engage in talks to address the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to The Hill.

Last week, US House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked that Zelensky "needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country" for Ukraine to continue pursuing a peace deal facilitated by the US, NBC News reported.

Meanwhile, in a joint address to Congress, Trump mentioned receiving a letter from Zelensky, which he interpreted as an attempt to mend ties between Washington and Kyiv. The letter came just days after the US suspended military aid to Ukraine.

Zelensky, following his meeting with Trump, described the discussion as "regrettable" but stopped short of issuing a formal apology. However, he reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to resume negotiations, particularly concerning a proposed minerals agreement.

Witkoff stressed the importance of addressing security arrangements, territorial matters, and utility plans for Ukraine.

"These are not complicated things. They just need to be put on the table, and everyone must be transparent about their expectations. Then, we can begin to discuss how to reach a compromise," he said.

Additionally, Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the date for his trip has yet to be confirmed.