A tense exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House has sparked widespread attention, with a video of Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, going viral. In the clip, Markarova is seen covering her face with her hands in a clear gesture of frustration and embarrassment as tensions escalated between the two leaders.
Trump-Zelensky meeting takes an unexpected turn
The meeting, which was supposed to conclude with the signing of a mineral agreement, ended abruptly after a heated discussion. What began as a formal diplomatic exchange quickly took a confrontational turn when Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky’s approach to U.S. aid.
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance remarked. “Right now, you’re forcing conscripts to the frontlines due to manpower shortages. You should be thanking the president.”
Trump issues blunt ultimatum
The discussion intensified when Trump firmly stated, “You don’t have the cards right now. You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out, and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
Following the exchange, Zelensky abruptly left the meeting. Trump later posted on social media, stating, “He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
White House official mocks Zelensky
Shortly after, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared the viral video of Markarova’s reaction on X, mockingly referring to Zelensky as a “complete and total disaster.” “The Ukrainian ambassador understands that Zelensky is a complete and total disaster,” Scavino wrote.
The unexpected breakdown of talks not only disrupted the planned signing of a critical agreement but also highlighted growing tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine over ongoing diplomatic and military support.
