The day began with the same habit of the White House for visiting foreign guests.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by Donald Trump at the gate of the West Wing by the Honor Guard, and the leaders shook hands politely.
As part of the Ukrainian media pool, we witnessed the well-designed formalities and about half an hour of polite conversation in the Oval Office.
Zelensky showed Trump the championship belt of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
Trump praised Zelensky’s clothes.
So far, so diplomatic.
But after a few minutes, the outbreak was unprecedented, to say the least. A gentle tone turned into quarrel and chaos. The sound was raised, the eyes rolled, and the sound was emitting vertical – all in front of the world’s TV camera.
The U.S. President and Vice-Chairman accused the visiting leader of accusing Zelensky of not enough support for our support for the Ukrainian war.
When Vice President JD Vance told Zelensky, tensions broke out and the war had to end through diplomacy.
What kind of diplomacy did Zelensky answer?
Vance told visiting leaders about the Ukrainian president that he came to the Oval Office and filed a case in front of the American media, and asked him to thank Trump for his leadership for being “disrespectful.”
Then, the reporter in the room looked at his open mouth, which was an extraordinary exchange.
Trump told him at one point: “You did enough conversations. You didn’t win this victory.” “You have to thank you. You don’t have a card.”
“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky replied. “I’m serious, Mr. President. I’m the president of a war.”
“You are betting on World War II,” Trump replied. “And what you do is very disrespectful to this country, and it gives you much more support than many people say.”
Vance retorted: “Did you say ‘thank you’ throughout the meeting? No.”
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States looked at her head.
The atmosphere completely changed – all opened.
Our American colleagues say they have never seen anything like that. One person told me: “This kind of scenario is simply unimaginable in the White House.”
Many remained in shock when journalists left the Oval Office. Soon after, the exchange room was replayed in the White House briefing room, and the rest of the media was not incredible.
The chaos that followed. There are also questions about whether the planned press conference will continue, or whether a highly anticipated deal on mineral resources will be signed.
A few minutes later, Trump wrote in “Social Truth” that Zelensky could “come back in peacetime.”
Press conference and transaction ceremony will be held in the East Room of the White House – officially cancelled.
Shortly after Zelensky strode into the waiting SUV, his ambassador lags behind him.
They quit when the world just began to digest extraordinary moments.
Despite mature debates, sooner or later there may be mineral transactions.
But it’s certain that Zelensky’s visit will be remembered for a completely different reason.
The world sees directly how negotiations between the United States and Ukraine unfold: they are difficult, emotional and tense.
Obviously, this is a difficult negotiation for both sides.
The gift from Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk certainly didn’t save the situation. After this game at the White House, the real question now is what this means for the war in Ukraine – Zelensky’s own future.
