US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky met on Friday (February 28) to negotiate a critical mineral resource deal. Trump has previously described the agreement as a first step toward a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. However, the encounter, which began with smiles and praises, ended into a tragedy. And a lot of credit belongs to US Vice President JD Vance.
What actually happened?
It all began when Zelensky & Trump met at the White House for a talk in front of the media – and Vance. The solemn talk devolved into a violent dispute when Vance emphasized the need of diplomacy in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Zelensky recommended that he visit Ukraine to observe the conditions in the war-torn region.
The discourse AND the disagreement.
“For four years, the United States of America had a president who stood up in press conferences and spoke harshly about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a large portion of the country.” “The path to peace and prosperity may involve engaging in diplomacy,” Vance continued, referring to former US President Joe Biden.
“Okay. So he (Vladimir Putin) occupied it, including our sections, large portions of Ukraine, the east, and Crimea. So he inhabited it in 2014. During a number of years – I’m not just talking about Biden – there was (Barack) Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, and now, God willing, President Trump will stop him. But in 2014, no one stopped him. He just occupied and took. “He killed people,” Zelensky stated.
‘JD, what type of diplomacy?’
“From 2014 until 2022, the scenario was the same. People have died on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. We had several talks with him, as you are aware. And we struck an agreement with him. (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela Merkel) agreed a cease-fire.
Everyone promised me that he would never leave… But after that, he breached the truce, slaughtered our guys, and refused to swap detainees. We signed the prisoner swap agreement. But he did not do it. JD, what type of diplomacy are you talking about? “What do you mean?” Zelensky inquired of the US vice president, as Trump listened calmly.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance said the audience.
“Mr. President, with due respect, I believe it is inappropriate of you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. You are now pushing conscripts to the front lines due to a lack of personnel. “You should be thanking the president,” Vance remarked, showing his support for Trump.
Zelensky appeared to lose his calm and questioned Vance if he had “ever been” to Ukraine and saw the problems the war-torn country was undergoing.
“I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people on a propaganda tour, Mr President,” Vance told reporters.
As the conversation heated up, the US VP questioned Zelensky if he had ever said “thank you” to Trump.
“A lot of times,” Zelensky said.
“No, in this meeting? The entire meeting? Offer some words of gratitude to the United States of America and the president who is working to preserve your nation,” Vance added.
“Yes, you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war…” Zelensky was speaking but was interrupted by Trump.
“He is not speaking loudly. Your country is in serious jeopardy. No, you’ve been chatting a lot. “Your country is in serious trouble,” the US president declared.
“You won’t win this. You have a darn excellent chance of getting out okay because of us,” Trump said.
According to US media reports, Trump administration instructed Zelensky to leave.
WATCH IN FULL: All 46 minutes of the Oval Office meeting between President Donald J. Trump and President Zelenskyy pic.twitter.com/L88QejnhRA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
How not to bargain, with Trump and Zelensky.
After abruptly interrupting the meeting, Trump turned to social media site X, saying Zelensky may “come back” when he is ready for cease-fire negotiations.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. 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… pic.twitter.com/CtnqXBNcW3
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2025
Later on, the Trump administration requested an apology from Ukraine’s president. But did Zelensky apologize?
“I’m not sure we did anything wrong,” the Ukrainian president stated.
He even said that he wishes the discussion had not occurred in front of reporters.
How did newspapers throughout the world react to the discussion debate?
On March 1, the tragedy in the Oval Office made headlines among the world’s main publications.
The Guardian, a British publication, began its headline with the remark “You are gambling with world war three” and labeled the Zelensky-Trump encounter “disastrous”.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail (Britain) described the encounter as “a spectacle to horrify the world,” claiming that during the “shouting match in the Oval Office,” a “raging Trump humiliates Zelensky on live TV.”
The Daily Mirror used “Shock & War” as their front page headline. The subtitle reads, “Trump stuns the world with vile rant at Zelensky” and “Ukraine hero forced home without a deal”.
“Make a deal or we’re out” was the Daily Telegraph’s front-page headline.
The Times described the event as a “Meltdown in the Oval Office”.
According to The Sun, the meeting took place in “The Fight House” rather than the White House.
