A heated argument erupted at the White House between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting intended to discuss a mineral deal. Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful and disrespectful towards U.S. support in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. A viral video showed Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova facepalming, reflecting her embarrassment. Vance criticized Zelensky’s failure to acknowledge American help, while Trump warned him that he was losing leverage and needed to negotiate peace. The meeting ended without any agreement, and Zelensky left, with Trump suggesting he could return when ready for peace.
Washington, United States:
On Friday, a heated altercation erupted at the White House between US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on one side, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the other. This dramatic confrontation unfolded in front of diplomats and both US and international media, with the two US leaders accusing Zelensky of being ungrateful and disrespectful towards the country.
As the public dispute escalated, a video capturing the reaction of Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, went viral across social media platforms. In the brief 12-second clip, the diplomat is seen covering her face with her hands—a gesture of disbelief—while nodding, clearly looking embarrassed.
Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, mockingly shared the viral video on X, labeling Zelensky as a “complete and total disaster”.
“Ukrainian Ambassador understands that Zelensky is a complete and total disaster,” he remarked.
Ukrainian Ambassador understands that Zelensky is a complete and total disaster… pic.twitter.com/2a6u7gNqfI
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 28, 2025
The meeting in the Oval Office between Trump and Zelensky was expected to be uncomfortable, particularly given Trump’s consistent support for Russia. Initially, the discussions regarding a mineral deal commenced on a relatively polite note. However, the tone quickly shifted to a heated argument shortly after JD Vance emphasized the importance of diplomacy in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This prompted Zelensky to articulate how Russia had breached previous agreements.
Vance subsequently told Zelensky that he was being “disrespectful” and criticized him for not recognizing the significant American support for Ukraine’s war efforts.
“Mr. President, with all due respect, I believe it is disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and attempt to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you all are resorting to conscripting individuals to the frontlines due to manpower issues. You ought to be expressing gratitude to the president,” he stated.
In response, an agitated Trump raised his voice and told Zelensky, “You don’t have the cards right now. You’re either going to strike a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll have to fight it out, and I don’t think it will end well.”
Shortly thereafter, Zelensky departed, while Trump took to social media, noting that “he can return when he is prepared for peace”.
The two parties did not even sign an agreement, the main objective of Zelensky’s visit.