President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance argued with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday in a tense exchange in the Oval Office over Kyiv’s war with invading Russian forces.
Zelenskyy had traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Trump and sign a deal to grant the United States access to some of Ukraine’s supply of critical minerals, a demand that has become central to Trump’s continuing support for Ukraine.
But the conversation took a sharp turn when Vance accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful.
As the back-and-forth grew more heated, Trump, raising his voice to a near-shout, told Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with World War III.”
The stunning press event went off the rails after Trump was asked about his posture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Ukraine’s supporters criticize as being too friendly, versus Zelenskyy, whom he recently called a “dictator.”
After Trump said he was aligning himself with “both of them” in order to seek peace, Vance added that former President Joe Biden’s attacks against Putin only resulted in more fighting and destruction.
“The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy,” Vance said.
Zelenskyy asked to respond to Vance, noting that Putin previously broke ceasefire agreements.
“What kind of diplomacy? JD, you are speaking about?” Zelenskyy said.
Vance shot back, “I’m talking diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.” He then added, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Zelenskyy said, “During the war, everybody has problems, even you, but you have a nice ocean and don’t feel it now, but you will feel it in the future.”
Trump then interrupted him: “Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel, we’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel.”
“I’m not telling you …” said the Ukrainian president.
“You’re in no position to dictate that. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re gonna feel,” Trump said.
Raising his voice, the president said, “You don’t have the cards right now … you’re gambling with the lives of 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 the country.”
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