Fresh out of Barnard College with a degree in political science, Riley is learning the ropes as a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
When world leaders appear with the American president in front of the Oval Office’s hearth, the exchange is normally tempered, congenial, and largely a photo-op – with the diplomatic dung-slinging already done behind closed doors. But that precedent was thrown out the window today during a confrontation between Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which voices were raised, threats were thrown, and the already fractured relationship between the US and its war-time ally may have snapped ahead of ceasefire negotiations.
Zelensky’s hastily arranged Washington visit sought to salvage the US-Ukrainian relationship and address Trump’s demand that Ukraine surrender mineral rights worth billions as repayment for previous US military aid. The deal was not signed following the meeting, with Zelensky leaving promptly afterward.
Trump and Vance berated the Ukrainian president in unprecedented fashion, demanding gratitude for US aid, lambasting Zelensky for “campaigning with the opposition” by meeting with Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, and threatening to abandon Ukraine entirely unless it accepts peace terms dictated by Washington. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump warned bluntly, adding that fighting alone against Russia "won’t be pretty.”
But Zelensky didn’t take their comments lying down. While he repeatedly expressed gratitude, he tried to contradict Vance’s claims regarding Ukraine’s military personnel shortages. He warned that Russia could eventually pose a threat to the US, warning “you have a nice ocean and don’t feel [threatened] now, but you will feel it in the future.”
The realignment from the US under the new administration couldn’t be clearer. Trump has effectively positioned the US alongside Russia, consistently praising Putin as “very smart” and “cunning” while falsely accusing Ukraine of starting the war, labeling Zelensky a “dictator,” and now accusing him of “gambling with World War III.”
However, the response from Congress – which controls Ukraine spending and where Zelensky received a far more cordial reception on both sides of the aisle – remains to be seen. As does how the exchange will be received domestically for both leaders. Trump’s aggressive approach is likely to play well with his base, but how will it play for the wider public? Will Zelensky be seen as brave or foolish back home? If you have a take, let us know here.
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s efforts to salvage his relationship with Trump have backfired, and Ukraine — though maintaining the support of Europe – is entering into potentially impending peace negotiations on shaky ground, although it remains to be seen how soon Ukraine and Russia will head to the negotiating table.
