U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yelled in the Oval Office on Friday, February 28, aiming to showcase the new deal Washington and Kiev acquire mineral rights in Ukraine.
It all started when Zelensky asked Vice President JD Vance how the Russian president would respect diplomacy this time when he had reached several ceasefires with Ukraine in the past.
See the transcript below and the full video
This is totally offensive!
Trump and Vance are just trying to humiliate Zelensky’s live broadcast on American TV, demanding gratitude smugly while publicly mocking him, like the bullies in the playground, both counting favors. My respect for Zelensky, and the embarrassment as an American—just emerge on the charts. pic.twitter.com/0c4d03pdmi
— Brian Krassenstein (@Krassenstein) February 28, 2025
Vice President Vance: What I am talking about is the end of diplomacy that will destroy your country.
President Zelensky: Yes, but if you are not strong…
Vice President Vance: Mr. President, I think it is disrespectful to go into the Oval Office and try to sue in front of the American media. Currently, you are moving around and forcing the recruits to the frontline because of your human labor. You should thank the President for trying to end this conflict.
President Zelensky: Have you ever been to Ukraine and said what problems did we encounter?
Vice President Vance: I’ve been there…
President Zelensky: Come once.
Vice President Vance: I actually saw and saw these stories, and I know what happens is that you take people, you take them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree with the problem when bringing people into the military?
President Zelensky: We have a problem.
Vice President Vance: Do you think it is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the government trying to prevent the destruction of your country?
President Zelensky: Many questions. Let’s start from scratch.
Vice President Vance: Of course.
President Zelensky: First of all, during the war, everyone had problems. Even you. But you have a nice ocean that doesn’t feel right now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless…
President Trump: You don’t know.
President Zelensky: God bless… God bless… You won’t start a war.
President Trump: You don’t know. Don’t tell us how we feel. We are trying to solve the problem. Don’t tell us how we feel.
President Zelensky: I’m not telling you.
President Trump: Because you don’t have the right to decide this. Remember this.
President Zelensky: I have no decision.
President Trump: You have no right to decide what we are going to feel. We’ll feel good.
President Zelensky: You will feel influence. I’ll tell you.
President Trump: We will feel very good, very strong.
President Zelensky: You will feel influence.
President Trump: You will feel good.
President Zelensky: You will feel influence.
President Trump: You are in a good position now. You have put yourself in a very bad position.
President Zelensky: It started from the beginning of the war.
President Trump: And [Vice President Vance] It happens to be correct about this.
President Zelensky: From the beginning of the war, Mr. President, I am –
President Trump: You are in a bad position. You don’t have a card now. With us, you start to have the cards.
President Zelensky: I’m not playing cards.
President Trump: Now, you don’t – yes, you’re playing cards.
President Zelensky: I am very serious, Mr. President.
President Trump: You are playing cards.
President Zelensky: I am very serious.
President Trump: You are gambling about the lives of millions of people. You are gambling with World War III.
President Zelensky: What do you think of…?
President Trump: You are gambling with World War III. You are gambling with the Third World War! What you do is very disrespectful to this country. Back to you.
President Zelensky: I respect your party very much.
President Trump: Far more than many people say they should have.
Vice President Vance: Have you ever said thank you once?
President Zelensky: Many times.
Vice President Vance: No.
President Zelensky: Even today. Even today.
Vice President Vance: You went to Pennsylvania and [Democratic Party] Opposition in October. Offer some appreciation to the United States of America and the president trying to save your country!
President Zelensky: Please, you think if you talk about war loudly –
President Trump: He didn’t speak loudly. He didn’t speak loudly. Your country is in great trouble.
President Zelensky: Can I answer?
President Trump: No, no. You’ve done a lot of chats. Your country is in great trouble.
President Zelensky: I know.
President Trump: You didn’t win.
President Zelensky: I know.
President Trump: You did not win this victory.
President Zelensky: I know.
President Trump: Because of us, you have a good opportunity to come out!
President Zelensky: Mr. President, we stay in our country and stay strong. We have been alone since the beginning of the war. We are grateful. I said thank you in this cabinet.
President Trump: You are not alone. You are not alone.
President Zelensky: Not only in this cabinet.
President Trump: We have given you $350 billion through this stupid president.
President Zelensky: You vote for your president.
President Trump: We have given you military equipment.
President Zelensky: You vote for your president.
President Trump: And your men are brave, but they have to use our military equipment.
President Zelensky: Where is your president?
President Trump: If you don’t have our military equipment…
President Zelensky: You invite me to speak. You invite me to speak.
President Trump: If you don’t have our military equipment, this war will end in two weeks. OK?
President Zelensky: Within three days. I heard it from Putin. Within three days. This is you –
President Trump: Maybe less.
President Zelensky: Two weeks later. Of course, yes.
President Trump: I tell you, doing business like this will be a difficult thing.
Vice President Vance: Again, if you just say “thank you”…
President Zelensky: I said it a lot [the] American!
Vice President Vance: Apart from the differences. Let’s start litigating these differences, rather than trying to fight against it in the US media when you’re wrong. We know you are wrong.
President Trump: But, you know, I think it is beneficial for the American people to see what is going on. I think this is very important. That’s why I’ve kept this story for so long. You must be grateful. You don’t have a card.
President Zelensky: I am very grateful.
President Trump: You are buried there! You…people are dying.
President Zelensky: I can tell you. I know. Mr. President, please don’t…
President Trump: You are doing less to soldiers. Listen, you act low on soldiers. If…and then you tell us, that would be a damn good thing [in a mocking voice]”I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire. I want to go, I want this.” Look, if you can ceasefire now, I’ll tell you: You accept it so that the bullet stops flying and your man stops being killed.
President Zelensky: Of course, we want to stop the war.
President Trump: But are you saying you don’t want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because your ceasefire is faster than the agreement.
President Zelensky: What I said to you is a guarantee.
President Zelensky: Ask our people about the ceasefire, [ask] Their thoughts. It doesn’t matter to you –
President Trump: That’s not me. That was a man named Biden, not a smart person. That was with Obama.
President Zelensky: This is your president…
President Trump: Sorry. That’s Obama who gave you the sheets with Obama, and I gave you the javelin. I took all these tanks for you. Obama gives you bed sheets. In fact, the statement was: “Obama gave the sheets and Trump gave the javelin.
