JD Vance shares insights into the pivotal moment when things took a turn for the worse during the intense meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy.
Trump and Zelenskyy’s Oval Office confrontation
Vice President JD Vance has revealed the moment tensions escalated between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The heated exchange took place last week in the Oval Office.
President Trump invited Zelenskyy to the White House on February 28. The goal was to discuss a possible peace deal to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, the conversation quickly turned confrontational. Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War 3.”
Additionally, Vance also criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was disrespectful and failed to show gratitude for U.S. support.
JD Vance calls Zelenskyy disrespectful
During the meeting, Vance insisted that Zelenskyy should have been more appreciative. He directly addressed the Ukrainian president.
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance said. “You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Why Trump decided to make the conversation public
Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance shared insights about the discussion.
Additionally, he also claimed there was a “lack of respect” from Zelenskyy and a “sense of entitlement.
He said: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Initially, Vance wanted the conversation to remain private. However, Trump made a last-minute decision to broadcast it.
“The president was like, ‘Nope, actually, I don’t want to have it in private anymore. I want the American people to see this,’” Vance revealed.
Trump’s clear goal for the Ukraine war
Vance reiterated Trump’s position on the war. According to him, Trump wants both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiation table.
“The president has set a very clear goal for his administration. He wants the killing to stop,” Vance said. “That’s ultimately where things broke apart.”
He further claimed that Zelenskyy showed “a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process.”
Vance warns the war cannot continue forever
During the Hannity interview, Vance emphasized the need to resolve the war quickly.
While, he also pointed out the limited resources available to sustain the conflict.
Vance added: “And I think that it’s very important that President Zelensky and of course, President Putin, too, they’ve both got to come to the negotiating table. And that’s ultimately where things broke apart.
“I really don’t care what President Zelensky says about me or anybody else. But he showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump has said is the policy of the American people and of their president.”
“There aren’t enough Ukrainian lives, there isn’t enough American money, and there isn’t enough ammunition to fund this thing indefinitely,” Vance stated.
He insisted that Trump’s approach is the only viable solution. “The only realistic pathway to bring this thing to a settlement is President Trump’s pathway. We encourage both President Zelensky and President Putin to follow that path.”
Following the meeting, Trump announced a freeze on all U.S. military aid to Ukraine. This decision has sparked debate in Washington and among global leaders.
The impact of this policy shift remains uncertain. However, it marks a significant moment in U.S. foreign relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine.