Washington, DC [US]: A tense exchange unfolded between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a media interaction at the White House, with Trump asserting that Zelenskyy “does not have the cards” and accusing him of not being “thankful” for U.S. military aid.
The explosive confrontation occurred as Zelenskyy pushed for stronger security guarantees while emphasizing that Russian President Vladimir Putin had continued his aggressive actions even during Trump’s first term.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance also criticized Zelenskyy, calling his remarks “disrespectful” in the Oval Office.
Trump’s Tough Stance
Trump made it clear that he wanted a diplomatic resolution to the war, warning Zelenskyy about the consequences of losing U.S. military support.
“If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks,” Trump stated, adding that Zelenskyy had been empowered by U.S. backing but was now “gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
He further accused Zelenskyy of failing to show gratitude for U.S. assistance, saying:
“You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You are buried there. People are dying. You are running low on soldiers… Then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a ceasefire.’ If you could get a ceasefire right now, I tell you to take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”
Zelenskyy Pushes Back
Defending his position, Zelenskyy pointed to Putin’s continued aggression and past ceasefires that had been broken.
“During 2014, nobody stopped him (Putin). He just occupied and took. He killed people. In 2019, I signed a deal with him for a ceasefire. He broke the ceasefire, killed our people, and did not exchange the prisoners. What kind of diplomacy are you speaking about?” Zelenskyy questioned.
Trump, in response, insisted he was working towards a peace deal and was not aligned with Putin.
“I am not aligned with Putin. I am not aligned with anybody. I am aligned with the United States of America and for the good of the world… The hatred that he (Zelenskyy) has got for Putin is very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.”
Vance Criticizes Zelenskyy
Vice President JD Vance joined Trump in admonishing Zelenskyy, stating:
“It is 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.”
The heated exchange has raised questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.