Vance Says Zelensky “Set Off” Trump During White House Spat, Blames Ukrainian Leader’s “Lack of Respect”

Vice President JD Vance has offered his perspective on the contentious exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week, attributing the clash to Zelensky’s lack of respect and unwillingness to engage in peace negotiations, Fox News reports.

Vance said that the friction began after Zelensky took issue with his answer to a journalist’s question regarding diplomatic solutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Vance recounted explaining to Zelensky the importance of diplomacy, referencing to the 2014 Crimea issue, previous failed peace attempts, and alleged violations of the 2019 ceasefire. Zelensky responded incredulously, asking, “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”

Vance retorted:

“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. 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.”

He further asserted that Zelensky had been ungrateful for American aid, questioning whether he had even expressed gratitude during their meeting.

According to Vance, he initially attempted to steer the conversation towards a private setting, but President Trump insisted on continuing the discussion publicly.

“The president was like, nope, actually, I don’t want to have it in private anymore. I want to have this actual conversation in public for the American people to see,” Vance said.

This public exchange escalated into a “tense and unprecedented back and forth” between Trump and Zelensky, with the president accusing the Ukrainian leader of “gambling with World War III.” A planned rare earth minerals deal between the two nations ultimately fell through, and Zelensky was asked to leave the White House.

Following the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelensky could return “when he is ready for Peace.”

“The president has set a very clear goal for his administration. He wants the killing to stop. 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,” Vance explained.

He added:

“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.”

A senior Trump administration official told the news outlet that all US military aid to Ukraine is being temporarily suspended pending a determination that the Ukrainians are committed to good-faith peace negotiations.