In a heated Oval Office meeting, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a tense exchange over the ongoing war with Russia. The discussion, which also included Vice President J.D. Vance, centered on Ukraine’s military situation, US support, and the possibility of a ceasefire.
Vice President Vance set the tone early, sharply criticizing former President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict. “For four years, we had a president who stood at press conferences and talked about Putin. And then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed most of the country,” Vance said, emphasizing what he claimed were past administration failures.
Trump, raising his voice at times, told Zelenskyy, “You’re not really in a good position right now. You’re gambling with World War III.” He pressed the Ukrainian leader on his reluctance to accept a ceasefire, questioning Kyiv’s strategy as Ukrainian forces face mounting difficulties on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy, in turn, challenged the notion that diplomacy alone could resolve the conflict, reminding Trump and Vance that Russia had repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements since the war began in 2014. “We signed agreements in 2019. Macron and Merkel confirmed the ceasefire. Putin broke it. What kind of diplomacy can work here?” he asked.
Vance continued his criticism, questioning whether Ukraine had expressed sufficient gratitude for U.S. assistance. “Have you even said thank you once? You went to Pennsylvania to campaign for the opposition,” he remarked, referencing Zelenskyy’s past outreach to US lawmakers seeking continued aid.
Trump also downplayed Ukraine’s leverage in negotiations, arguing that Kyiv lacked the bargaining power to dictate terms to Russia. “You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers,” he said. He suggested that agreeing to a ceasefire could be the best option for Ukraine.
When a reporter asked Trump what would happen if Russia broke a ceasefire, he brushed off the concern. “What if a bomb drops on your head right now?” he quipped, before adding that Russia had respected him as president in ways they did not respect Biden or Barack Obama.
