President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance cried out Ukrainian President Volodymie Zelensky on Friday in an explosive television oval office, eventually exploding plans to sign a rare mineral trade, and a dramatic break in relations between their two wartime allies.
Unlike those seen between modern American presidents and foreign leaders, in a national conflict filled with fireworks, Trump and Vance denounced Zelensky for not being fully grateful for the US support in the war with Russia, and sought to strongly support peace in every word Americans directed.
As the voices rose and his temper burned, Trump threatened to abandon Ukraine completely if Zelensky didn't go with him. After journalists were escorted from the oval office, Trump cancelled the remaining visits, including a planned joint press conference and a mineral trade signing ceremony. Afterwards, Zelensky, with a stern look on his face, left the West Wing, climbed up the waiting black sports utility vehicle, and left the White House grounds.
“We feel our involvement gives him a great advantage in negotiations, so President Zelensky has decided that he is not ready for peace if America is involved,” Trump wrote on social media. “I don't want any advantage, I want peace. He downplayed the United States in his precious oval office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
The conflict left uncertainty, but it provided a major boost to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin.
Even when he cried out to Zelensky on Friday, Trump expressed solidarity with Putin, saying that the two of them came together, endured a special advisor's investigation during his first term in Russia's efforts to help Trump win the 2016 election.
The president's verbal attack on Zelensky was a surprising display of anger and resentment towards the leader of a country that was invaded by greater powers aimed at eliminating it as an independent nation. The memorable president never erupted with foreign leaders visiting in such vituperous ways on camera.
Speaking to Ukrainian leaders, Vance told Zelensky that it was “disrespectful” for him to come to his oval office and make his point in front of American news media, and asked Trump to thank his leader. Trump jumped in and told Ukrainian leaders, “You're not in a really good position right now.”
“You're going to do a deal or we're going out,” Trump added. “And if we were out, you'd fight it and don't think it would be pretty.”
Vance's enthusiasm to attack Zelensky left many observers wondering if it was a planned ambush or an improvised tantrum, which appears to have encouraged Trump to join in.
The result, however, was a recent explosion of economic transactions that Trump had prioritized, and a commitment by Ukraine to take over rare mineral rights to repay US military aid over the past three years. The future of the transaction remained unknown.
Zelensky's rush to Washington, and last week he visited Washington to sign that it was intended to smooth out tensions with Trump, who parroted Russia's topic by mistake by claiming that Ukraine had “started” the war and calling Zelensky a “no-election dictator.”
As Zelensky agreed to a mineral trade, Trump appeared ready to go well with Zelensky and Zelensky by telling reporters Thursday that he didn't remember the dictator's comments and that he had expressed his respect for the Ukrainian leader. He welcomed Mr. Zelensky along with the Honorary Guards at the door on the West Wing on Friday morning, and they waved politely without any obvious warmth.
However, the encounter quickly became hostile right after the journalist sat in an oval office in attendance. In his usual dark, long-sleeved shirt, Zelensky tried to explain the history of the war with Russia. It noted that Moscow first seized Crimea and returned to 2014 when it first occupied territory in eastern Ukraine.
However, Vance stopped and began attacking Zelensky. “I think it's disrespectful to come to an oval office to try and file a lawsuit in front of the American media,” he spoke. “We should be grateful to the President.”
He accused Zelensky of winning a “propaganda tour” in the United States. “Do you think it's respectful to come to your elliptical office and attack the regime that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
Zelensky tried to respond to Vance's claims. He said that one day the US could feel threatened by Russia. “You have a lovely ocean, and you don't feel it now, but you'll feel it in the future,” he said.
It caused Trump and he cut him off. “You shouldn't tell us what we're trying to feel,” he said, yelling. “You're not in a good position, you don't have a card now,” he added, “You're gambling with World War II.”
Mr. Vance is back. “Have you ever said thank you?”
Trump's explosion with Zelensky is in contrast to Putin's assessment. Just this week, the president called Putin a “very smart guy” and a “very unning man.” He said he believes Putin really wants peace and predicted on Thursday that he would “keep his words up” if the deal was reached despite multiple past violations of Russian agreements.
While he talks to Putin on the phone, he has little sense of how Trump expects to negotiate either a ceasefire or a permanent peace deal. During last year's campaign, he promised to end the war within 24 hours, and even before he took office.
Since taking office, Trump has called for Ukraine to hand over some of its natural resources as a recapture of military aid provided under President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to protect Russia. Trump has repeatedly falsely argued that the US offers only $350 billion and only $100 billion to Europe, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, but Europe has allocated $138 billion compared to $119 billion from the US.
