By NICOLE SILVERIO | THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION
President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance duked it out with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday after he openly criticized the U.S. for not having stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said he is not siding with either Putin or Zelenskyy but is determined to negotiate a deal to end the war, while Vance argued that the current administration is “engaging in diplomacy.” Zelenskyy argued that the U.S. has failed to stop Putin and challenged Vance’s argument that the nation is engaging in “diplomacy.”
“During 2015, nobody stopped [Putin]. He just occupied them too. He killed people,” Zelenskyy said. “[Throughout] 2014 and 2022, the situation [was] the same. People have been dying on the content line, nobody stopped him … He broke this ceasefire. He killed our people and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, J.D., are you speaking about? What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance said. “Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. 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 … I have actually watched and seen the stories and I know what happens, you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President, do you disagree that you’ve had problems bringing people into your military? And do you think it’s disrespectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country.”
Trump told Zelenskyy point-blank that he was “disrespecting” the U.S. and had “no position” to be critical of the nation given that he is at war.
“We’re trying to solve a problem, don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump told Zelenskyy. “Because you’re in no position to dictate that, remember that. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position … You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you’ll have the cards. You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with a lot of lives and millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, you’re gambling with World War III and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country. It’s backed you far more than a lot people say it should have.”
“Have you said thank you once?” Vance then asked, prompting Zelenskyy to claim he had. “No, in this entire meeting, have you said thank you? You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and to the president who’s trying to save your country.”
Zelenskyy accused Vance of “speaking very loudly about the war,” and argued his nation has “stayed strong” throughout the conflict. Trump reminded the Ukrainian president that the Ukrainians have persisted against Russia since 2022 because the U.S. generously sent the nation its military equipment and spent billions of taxpayer dollars to help them fight the war.
Vance told Zelenskyy that they should “litigate [their] disagreements” rather than him traveling to the U.S. to call out the nation’s leaders.
After the explosive exchange, the scheduled joint press conference between Trump and Zelenskyy had been canceled. The White House told the Daily Caller that Trump asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House over the incident.
The president said in a Truth Social post that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace” because U.S. involvement grants him a “big advantage in negotiations.”
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today,” Trump said. “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and 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. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
The U.S. and Ukraine had finalized a deal for mineral extraction and had planned to sign the agreement at the White House. No deals will be signed as of Friday.
I can ask my neighbor to keep an eye on my house.
Or, I can let my neighbor park his Porsche in my garage and he WILL keep and eye on my house.
How can Zelensky not understand?