The world is still eagerly awaiting the next steps after the dust settled from Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s intense meeting at the White House.
On February 28, the world watched in disbelief as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance joined forces to mock and belittle the Ukrainian president. Zelenskyy and his delegation had traveled to Washington with hopes of securing an agreement to end their war with Russia—a conflict that, as most readers know, began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Instead of offering Zelenskyy the respect and empathy he has earned after defending his country against overwhelming odds for more than three years, Trump and Vance launched an attack, raising their voices and demanding that Zelenskyy express gratitude for the US’s ongoing support.
Unsurprisingly, peace agreements do not emerge from such confrontational environments.
To his credit, Zelenskyy took everything Trump and Vance threw at him without losing his composure, but the relationship between the US and Ukraine clearly suffered as a result of the public spectacle that unfolded before the world’s media.
After the chaotic meeting, Zelenskyy and his team were asked to leave the White House prematurely, and Trump subsequently announced the suspension of all US aid to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing.
Intelligence sharing was eventually resumed following more constructive talks between the two nations in Jeddah, though the true impact of Trump’s apparent reluctance to confront Vladimir Putin and Russia remains to be fully understood.
In the wake of the Oval Office debacle, Zelenskyy took to social media, calling the encounter “regrettable.”
“It is regrettable that it happened this way,” the president posted. “It’s time to make things right. We hope for future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
Zelenskyy also made a subtle reference to his treatment at the White House in his latest speech, addressing criticism over his choice of attire for the meeting. He had opted not to wear a suit, instead donning black trousers, boots, and a black jumper embroidered with the Ukrainian trident—an outfit many might say was fitting for a man defending his country. However, one journalist criticized his wardrobe, accusing him of “disrespecting the dignity” of the Oval Office.
Zelenskyy responded, joking that he would wear a ‘costume’ when the war is over. “Maybe something like yours, maybe something better. We’ll see, maybe something cheaper,” he quipped.
The president didn’t miss the opportunity to add a sarcastic remark during a recent speech at an awards ceremony in Kyiv on Sunday, March 9. Wearing a similar outfit to the one he wore in Washington, he congratulated the awardees and added, “Apologies that I am not wearing a suit.”
After a meeting in Saudi Arabia, a joint statement revealed that Ukraine had accepted a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, contingent on Russia’s agreement.