Trump browbeating Zelensky offers rare window into how US wields power

Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, experienced a somewhat awkward "send-off" scene. The meeting was marked by intense arguments between the two leaders, drawing global attention.

The dispute allowed countries around the world, including America's friends, rivals, and observers, to witness a rare and heated clash between Trump and his vice president and the president of a European nation at war with Russia. The scenes of arguments within the Oval Office are unprecedented in American history and are expected to be remembered for a long time to come.

Governments typically deploy intelligence agencies to glean behind-the-scenes information about tensions and disputes between competitors and allies. However, in this instance, it was rare to see a nuclear power openly displaying its discussions with a country at war, receiving its weapons assistance, and confronting another nuclear power.

Trump seemed to enjoy the argument, stating loudly during the dispute, "I think it's good for the American people to see what's happening." The video of this event will be scrutinized by countries like Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, as they try to decipher how to communicate with the unpredictable Trump administration. This incident may also unsettle leaders of small Eastern European countries bordering or formerly influenced by Russia, and it marks the failure of efforts by France and the United Kingdom to ensure a smooth visit for Zelenskyy. Previously, Britain's Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron had praised Trump, attempting to persuade him to support Ukraine.

The argument started when Zelenskyy interjected as Vance defended the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate with Russia to end the war. Zelenskyy detailed Russia's offensive against Ukraine and questioned, "Mr. Vance, what kind of diplomacy are you asking me about?" Vance accused Zelenskyy of "arguing" about negotiations in front of the American media instead of thanking Trump for his support, and stated that Ukraine faced "problems." Vance also accused Ukraine of forcing conscripts to the front lines, citing a shortage of troops that weakened its position on the battlefield. Reportedly, the U.S. has been urging Ukraine to lower the conscription age to 18 since the Biden administration, but Zelenskyy has refused due to concerns about triggering widespread backlash; the current conscription age in Ukraine is 25.

Tensions escalated when Zelenskyy asked Vance if he had visited the front lines like other American lawmakers and officials, to which Vance replied, "You take them on propaganda tours." Zelenskyy warned that if the U.S. does not support Ukraine, the U.S. will face risks, saying, "You have beautiful oceans. You don't feel it now, but you will feel it in the future." Trump often says that the U.S. is separated from Europe by an ocean, implying that they should provide more military support to Ukraine and increase NATO spending. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and Trump has previously ruled out agreeing to Ukraine joining NATO. The talks gradually spiraled out of control after this point.

Trump flew into a rage, rebuking the Ukrainian president and shouting, "You don't know. You don't know... don't tell us how we're going to feel, because you're not qualified to give orders." During the argument, Trump shouted, "You're not in a good position. You have no cards now. With us, you start to have cards." Trump made no secret of his desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine, and his administration had previously held high-level talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia. But the U.S. is still providing weapons to Ukraine. Friday's chaos suggests that this situation may be in danger.

After the meeting, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, "I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready to make peace with the United States involved because he thinks our involvement gives him great leverage in the negotiations. I don't want leverage, I want peace." Besides foreshadowing a profound shift in the U.S.'s view of the world, the meeting also showed the world how a superpower treats its smaller partners who do not comply with its demands. Trump's rebuke of Ukraine, which is militarily dependent on the U.S., is the kind of rhetoric that journalists and historians usually only find in archives and unearth from sources, but this time it was all filmed.

Zelenskyy tried to present his point of view to Trump, but was prevented from doing so. Trump even touched Zelenskyy at one point. "I'm not playing cards," the Ukrainian leader said. "I'm very serious." An obviously angry Trump retorted, "You are playing cards. You are risking the lives of millions of people. You are risking World War III, and what you are doing is very disrespectful to this country. This country, which supports you."

During the argument, Vance accused Zelenskyy of campaigning for the "opposition," referring to his visit to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania with Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, in September 2024. Zelenskyy tried to explain his position but was again interrupted by Trump, who said, "Your country is in big trouble. You're not winning." He said, "If you didn't have our military equipment, that war would be over in two weeks."

Trump reiterated U.S. military support for Ukraine, saying the U.S. had provided $350 billion. But this figure is disputed. According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress has approved five bills supporting Ukraine totaling $175 billion since the Russian invasion. According to the Kiel Institute in Germany, about $120 billion of that has been spent. The Kiel Institute says European countries have provided $138 billion in direct support to Ukraine.

Behind this dramatic scene lies a genuine disagreement between Ukraine and the U.S. on how to end the war. Trump appears to be amenable to a ceasefire agreement that could freeze current front lines, and suggested this had been raised in talks with Russia. He said Zelenskyy wanted more. "You tell us, 'I don't want a ceasefire. I don't want a ceasefire...' If you can get a ceasefire now, I'm telling you, you take it so that the bullets stop flying and your soldiers aren't killed anymore... I want a ceasefire." When Zelenskyy argued, "Did you ask my people if they want a ceasefire?" Trump responded that his administration was different from the Biden administration. Trump said, "Making a deal like that is going to be a very difficult thing."