White House
Trump and
Vance attack Zelenskyy in remarkable Oval Office exchange
The
president and vice president each had harsh words for the Ukrainian president.
By Eli
Stokols
02/28/2025
12:58 PM EST
Updated:
02/28/2025 01:54 PM EST
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/28/trump-vance-zelenskyy-oval-office-exchange-00206727
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to Washington optimistic that signing
President Donald Trump’s desired minerals deal would stabilize their
relationship and keep the U.S. on his side.
Turns out he
was walking into an ambush.
Trump and
Vice President JD Vance both turned on the embattled wartime leader during a
remarkably tense exchange in the Oval Office on Friday, accusing Zelenskyy of
failing to express sufficient gratitude for U.S. involvement and overplaying
what they said was a weak diplomatic hand.
“You’ve done
enough talking. You’re not winning this,” Trump said, raising his voice to
Zelenskyy. “You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us.”
The
fireworks started more than 40 minutes into what had been a cordial
conversation about the economic agreement the two countries planned to sign and
vague assurances from Trump about the U.S. standing with Ukraine if and when
its war with Russia ends. But after the remarkable and very public spat,
Zelenskyy was turned away from the White House, departing early as the leaders
scrubbed a planned press conference and the signing of the framework for a deal
to share future profits from Ukraine’s rare minerals.
Trump
dismissed Zelenskyy with a TruthSocial post just before the leader’s SUV pulled
back into the West Wing portico to ferry him away. “I have determined that
President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he
feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” the president
wrote. “I don’t want an advantage. I want PEACE. He disrespected the United
States in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for
Peace.”
Trump, who
during the campaign said he could quickly and easily end the war, is now facing
a more complicated geopolitical reality. But he continues to exert pressure on
Ukraine, reversing America’s stance that defending the country’s sovereignty
from Russian attacks was critical for global stability and security.
Russia’s
foreign minister this week made clear that the Kremlin is not inclined to come
to the negotiating table as it continues to make slow inroads along the war’s
current battle lines in eastern Ukraine. But Trump has yet to criticize Putin
publicly and instead has adopted the Kremlin’s positions, including opposition
to NATO membership for Ukraine and the falsehood that Ukraine is responsible
for starting the war. Russia attacked Ukraine three years ago without
provocation.
Vance, who’d
been sitting quietly during Friday’s meeting, took issue with the Ukrainian
president’s criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Zelenskyy
referred to as a “terrorist” known for breaking his word as he pleaded for
American military backing before a phalanx of TV cameras and journalists.
“I think
it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office, litigating in front of
the American media,” Vance told Zelenskyy. “Right now, you guys are going
around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower
problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to
this conflict.”
Trump, who
had earlier lauded Ukraine’s courage throughout the war and left the door open
to the U.S. providing security guarantees, grew more animated as Zelenskyy
tangled with Vance, who dismissed his invitation to come see the war in person
as a “propaganda tour” aimed at maintaining the West’s financial support.
Zelenskyy
warned Trump that — despite having a “nice ocean” separating the U.S. from
Europe — America would eventually feel the impact of Russia overtaking Ukraine
and potentially its neighbors.
“Don’t tell
us what we’re going to feel,” Trump shot back. “We’re trying to solve a
problem.
He
continued: “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re
going to feel very good and very strong.”
Zelenskyy
struggled to respond as Trump and Vance took turns infantilizing and berating
him for what they said was a lack of gratitude and his strategic decision to
state his case with the press in the room.
“Let’s go
litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American
media when you’re wrong,” Vance said.
“You have to
be thankful,” Trump told Zelenskyy, expressing frustration that Ukraine’s
leader, whose country has staved off Russian forces for three years, wasn’t
more willing to make concessions that would quickly end the war. “You don’t
have the cards. You’re buried there. You people are dying. You’re running low
on soldiers.”
Trump
reminded Zelenskyy that he provided Ukraine with Javelin missiles in his first
term — after President Barack Obama did not in response to Russia’s 2014
invasion of Crimea.
“You’ve got
to be more thankful, because, let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With
us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards,” said Trump,
suggesting that it was Zelenskyy’s posture — not Putin’s — that was the primary
impediment to ending the war.
“It’ll be a
tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change,” Trump said. “You’re
either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it
out. And I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
