In a shocking turn of events, a diplomatic meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went awry in the Oval Office. Initially cordial, tensions escalated when Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of ungratefulness for U.S. support, leading to a heated exchange. Trump confronted Zelensky after he warned about the consequences of inadequate U.S. assistance, culminating in Trump wagging his finger and chastising Zelensky. The confrontation ended with Zelensky leaving abruptly and the cancellation of a minerals deal signing. The dramatic fallout left U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia uncertain, much to the Kremlin’s approval.
Washington:
Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. Then, in a jaw-dropping turn of events, the relationship between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky deteriorated at an astonishing pace.
A diplomatic photo op in the Oval Office, intended as a step toward peace between Ukraine and Russia, devolved into a heated confrontation that has left the future of Kyiv uncertain.
Despite rising tensions following Trump’s recent outreach to Ukraine’s adversary, Russia, and his labeling of Zelensky as a “dictator” last week, the two had managed to maintain a cordial atmosphere for the first 40 minutes.
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As both former TV personalities, they understood how to engage with the cameras. They shook hands, and ex-reality TV star Trump made a light-hearted comment about Zelensky’s attire, noting it was less military-like than what Ukraine’s wartime leader typically wears.
The former comedian Zelensky was at the White House to finalize a deal on rare minerals and to keep Trump aligned, maintaining a low profile while seated with Trump in armchairs, responding to questions.
Then everything changed in an instant.
What transpired was one of the most incredible scenes ever witnessed in the Oval Office, the revered center of the presidency where US leaders have traditionally welcomed their international counterparts.
‘Disrespectful’
Vice President JD Vance ignited the fire that led to the breakdown in relations.
Embracing his growing role as Trump’s attack dog, Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for US support when the Ukrainian leader questioned Trump’s calls for “diplomacy” with Moscow.
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“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and discuss this in front of the American media,” Vance stated, sitting on a sofa near the two leaders.
As tensions rose, Zelensky crossed his arms and inquired if Vance had ever visited Ukraine, leading the vice president to angrily accuse Zelensky of orchestrating “propaganda tours.”
Then Trump joined the fray.
When Zelensky remarked that even though he was an ocean away from Europe, “you will feel it in the future” if assistance to Kyiv wasn’t provided, Trump became irate.
“Don’t tell us what we are going to feel,” Trump shouted, raising his voice.
That was just the beginning.
The simmering tensions that had brewed since Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12 erupted publicly — not behind closed doors, but in front of the world’s media, including AFP journalists.
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is highly disrespectful to this country,” Trump stated.
Fuming and red-faced, Trump pointed a finger at Zelensky, his voice rising. At one point, he lightly pushed Zelensky’s upper arm as he emphasized his points.
‘Great television’
For Zelensky, it felt like an ambush, as he struggled to make his arguments while Trump reprimanded him.
“Please, you think that if you speak very loudly…,” he said to Vance at one juncture, only for Trump to interject.
“He’s not speaking loudly,” Trump retorted.
When Zelensky attempted to ask a question, Trump interrupted: “No, no, you’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is not winning.”
The US president, who has been skeptical of US support for Kyiv, listed a series of grievances about Ukraine.
Trump even expressed sympathy for Kremlin leader Putin.
“Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me; he endured a phony witch hunt,” Trump remarked, referencing an investigation during his first term that looked into whether his 2016 election campaign colluded with Moscow.
As the clash dragged on for about five minutes, reporters scrambled to film the altercation and type on their phones, while a Ukrainian diplomat buried her head in frustration.
“You’re either going to reach an agreement or we’re out,” Trump asserted, making it clear that this divide was significant.
Eventually, Trump called an end to the meeting, and journalists were ushered out.
About an hour later, Zelensky abruptly departed the White House, and a minerals deal signing ceremony was scrapped.
The disintegration of US support for Ukraine against Russia, at least momentarily, had unfolded in real-time.
In Moscow, the Kremlin celebrated, applauding Trump’s “restraint” towards “scumbag” Zelensky.
But for Trump, ever the political showman, some instincts are hard to shake off.
“This is going to make for great television, I will say that,” he remarked as the meeting concluded.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)