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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was booted from the White House on Friday (February 28, 2025) after a heated disagreement during a public meeting with U.S. president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance.
At one point during the testy exchange, Zelenskyy called the American vice president a “cyka,” the Ukrainian word for “bitch.”
The drama went down toward the tail end of a fifty-minute public meeting in the Oval Office when Zelenskyy and Vance started mixing it up.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked Zelenskyy, accusing the Ukrainian president of attempting to litigate the conflict through the media.
When Zelenskyy said that Americans – who have contributed hundreds of billions of tax dollars to his war effort – had not felt the pain of the war (but soon would), Trump brusquely interjected.
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“Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel,” Trump said. “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel.”
“You’re in no position to dictate that,” Trump continued. “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re gonna feel.”
In recent months, Ukraine has seen major reverses in its three-year war with Russia – which began with a Russian invasion but was actually precipitated by U.S.-led overthrow of the country’s democratically elected government in 2014. While Zelenskyy is refusing to hold free elections in his country, America’s 2024 election saw his piggy bank – the administration of Joe Biden – defeated.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said, referring to the state of the conflict. “With us, you start having cards.”
“I’m not playing cards,” Zelenskyy shot back. “I’m very serious, Mr. President.”
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people!” Trump told Zelenskyy. “You’re gambling with World War III!”
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? Zelensky is getting absolutely EVISCERATED in the Oval Office right now
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 28, 2025
VP: “Do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
TRUMP: “You… pic.twitter.com/q1na59UNq9
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Shortly thereafter, Zelenskyy was unceremoniously bounced from the premises – with White House staff literally eating the lunch laid out for him and the Ukrainian delegation.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today,” Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting. “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that president Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.
“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump added. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
After the meeting, Trump said Zelenskyy “very much overplayed his hand.”
“We’re looking for peace,” Trump added. “We’re not looking to go into a ten-year war.”
After informing the media that Zelenskyy had asked him to come back to the Oval Office, Trump made it clear he was not welcome back at this time.
“He wants to come back right now, but I can’t do that,” Trump said.
While European leaders announced their solidarity with Ukraine, Trump received widespread support from his country’s leaders – including several staunch interventionists who were heretofore allies of Zelenskyy.
Even neoconservative shill Lindsey Graham – who is facing reelection in devoutly pro-Trump South Carolina next year – temporarily flip-flopped and spoke out against Zelenskyy.
“Somebody asked me, ‘am I embarrassed about Trump?'” Graham told reporters. “I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country.”
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JUST IN: Senator Lindsey Graham says he doesn’t think the United States can ever do business with Zelensky again, says he has never been more proud of Trump and Vance.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 28, 2025
“I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country.”… pic.twitter.com/71jLkvXUMq
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“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful,” Graham added. “And I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again.”
Graham added Zelenskyy’s handling of the meeting – specifically the way he “confronted the president” – was “over the top.”
America’s top diplomat Marco Rubio – another neocon – was similarly put out with the Ukrainian leader.
“You start to perceive that maybe Zelenskyy doesn’t want a peace deal,” Rubio said. “He says he does, but maybe he doesn’t, and that active, open undermining of efforts to bring about peace is deeply frustrating for everyone who’s been involved in communications with them leading up to today.”
America’s interests in Ukraine – and our government’s role in poking the Russian bear – have extensively been explored in previous coverage. Meanwhile, the Russian psyche – and how such a mentality led to Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine – was incisively elucidated by FITSNews contributor Prioleau Alexander just days before Putin’s invasion.
Count on FITSNews to continue to keep our audience abreast of what is clearly a new chapter in this relationship…
BANNER VIA: GETTY IMAGES
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina and before that he was a bass guitarist and dive bar bouncer. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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6 comments
Trump’s “plan” is unconditional surrender to Putin. The US is now on the side of N. Korea, Russia, and Belarus. Listening to Trump yesterday he and Putin are victims in all of this. What a weak ass pussy. People who feel like they have to say they are tough are actually not.
Trump called Zelensky a dictator and said Ukraine started the war yet expected him to come in kissing his ass? The media had it all wrong calling it a shouting match. Trump and JV were shouting like bitches on the rag but Zelensky never raised his voice even when he was explaining that Putin has always broken deals and can’t be trusted.
Face it, this was choreographed as a reality tv stunt to give Trump cover for cutting off Ukraine completely and letting his good friend Putin have his way. People who believe otherwise are suckers.
What we saw yesterday was a President standing up for his country. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance were there too. Standing up for Russia as usual!
But look, what Trump did for America. Every major democracy in the world voiced their support, for Ukraine. So Trump supports got what they wanted. We no longer have to worry about leading the free world. We no longer need to consult with our allies. We have none. Maybe China, Russia, Iran and North Korea will let us hang out with them. And there is always that military and economic behemoth, Hungary (if Trump can remember they are not Turkey). Wellcome to the dark side!
Will Folks, you are an idiot. And that is okay. This opinion blog is a business and we all know you write what you get paid to write. It’s why no one pays attention to you. But for God’s sake. You are now pro-Russia? Tell me why you support Putin. Explain it. This is insane.
Prioleau is still right. Putin is still a thug and insane. But being KGB, he is also manipulative. Trump had personal calls with Putin while he was no longer president.
It’s in Ukraine’s constitution that elections cannot be held during war.
How does one have peace talks with just one side of the countries at war? Ukraine did not have a seat at the “peace negotiations” in Dubai or some other middle eastern country. Zelenskyy said, “If one doesn’t have a seat at the table, then you’re on the table.”
I wouldn’t call what happened in the Oval Office, a meaningful discussion. It was two school yard bullies ganging up.
I was disgusted and ashamed by Trump and Vance shouting match. It was clearly an ambush.
Trump has flipped America on its head. Our allies are now our enemies. Our enemies are now our friends.
Our enemies are not our friends. Russia needs trump to stall the war so he can rebuild, and finish the takeover of Ukraine. His army and economy are in shambles. We have none friends now!
Trump is abandoning Ukraine, Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to abandon our cyber defense against Russia, Tulsi Gabbard is attacking our European allies with Russian talking points, Trump is telling Americans to stop worrying about Putin, and we are turning over to Elon Musk the ability to track each of us and shut down our sources of income. It’s pretty clear where this is going, and if you can’t see it you are brain dead.