Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media Friday to express gratitude to the United States following a tense Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance that erupted into a heated exchange.
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
The post marked Zelenskyy’s first public comments since the dramatic confrontation, which centered on Ukraine’s war efforts and its reliance on U.S. aid. The meeting, intended to address a potential rare earth minerals deal, quickly devolved into a shouting match, with Trump and Vance accusing Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” and insufficiently grateful for American support.
Vance, a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, told Zelenskyy, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Trump echoed the sentiment, stating, “What you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country.”
Zelenskyy pushed back, emphasizing Ukraine’s struggles and warning that the U.S. would eventually feel the consequences of the war. “Everybody has problems, even you,” he said, adding, “You will feel it in the future.”
The clash led to the cancellation of a scheduled press conference, and Zelenskyy was seen leaving the White House abruptly. In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace” and said he could return “when he is ready for peace.”
The incident highlights the growing tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.
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