WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance is now attempting to downplay his heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, claiming he was trying to “defuse” tensions rather than escalate them.
The confrontation, which took place on February 28, was initially intended as a diplomatic meeting between Donald Trump, Vance, and Zelensky. Trump has positioned himself as a dealmaker in ending the war between Ukraine and Russia, which has been ongoing since Putin’s invasion in February 2022. However, the discussion took a sharp turn when Zelensky questioned how the White House could trust Putin to uphold a peace agreement.
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Vance, visibly irritated, snapped back at Zelensky. “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,” he said, according to Mediaite. He then doubled down, accusing Ukraine of forcing civilians onto the frontlines due to manpower shortages.
Trump soon interjected, warning Zelensky that he was “gambling with World War III” and bluntly stating that Ukraine “is not in a good position.” Days later, on March 3, Vance appeared on Fox News in an apparent effort to walk back the controversy. Speaking with Sean Hannity, he insisted that his goal had been to “defuse” the situation rather than inflame it.
“Even when Zelensky was kind of needling [Trump], even when Zelensky was saying things that I thought were untrue, the president just tried to be diplomatic,” Vance said. However, he claimed the exchange “really went off the rails” when a Polish journalist asked a question. “And then, something about my answer just really set Zelensky off,” Vance added.
“So, then he came at me, and then I went back at him. And what I tried to do originally was actually try to defuse the situation a little bit.” Vance also suggested that Trump wanted the clash to unfold in public, implying that Zelensky exhibited a “lack of respect” and a “certain sense of entitlement.”
This tense meeting could significantly impact the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. During the confrontation, Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Zelensky: “You either make a deal or we are out.” The message was clear—Trump expects negotiations, or Ukraine risks losing American backing against Russia.
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In an apparent attempt to smooth over the fallout, Zelensky later posted a message of gratitude on X, thanking America, Trump, and Congress. “We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and the American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion,” he wrote.
In a follow-up tweet, Zelensky added, “American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.” As tensions over Ukraine’s future mount, the Oval Office confrontation has highlighted the fragile relationship between Trump’s administration and Kyiv, raising questions about America’s long-term role in the conflict.
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