Vice President JD Vance shared his take on last week’s White House clash. He said it all started when a journalist’s question set Zelenskyy "off."
"I do think that there was just a certain sense of — there was a lack of respect. There was a certain sense of entitlement," Vance said on "Hannity." It was his first interview since the heated exchange.
During the Oval Office meeting, Vance spoke about diplomacy. He stressed the need for talks to end Putin’s war. Zelenskyy jumped in to ask for clarification.
Trump, Vance spar with Zelenskyy in tense White House meetingVideo.
Vance outlined Russia’s past actions. He pointed to Crimea’s annexation, failed peace deals, and a broken 2019 ceasefire. Zelenskyy looked stunned.
"What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?" he asked.
"I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country," Vance shot back. "I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict."
Vance then accused Zelenskyy of ingratitude. He asked if the Ukrainian leader had even said thank you. Zelenskyy has previously thanked the U.S. on X and in a 2022 address to Congress.
Speaking to Sean Hannity, Vance claimed he tried to keep things private. "The president was like, nope, actually, I don't want to have it in private anymore. I want to have this actual conversation in public for the American people to see," he said.
The tension escalated between Trump and Zelenskyy. Trump accused him of "gambling with World War III."
A planned rare earth minerals deal collapsed. Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House.
Trump later posted on Truth Social. He said Zelenskyy could return "when he is ready for Peace."
Vance defended Trump’s position. "The president has set a very clear goal for his administration. He wants the killing to stop," he said. "Zelenskyy and Putin both have to come to the negotiating table."
"I really don't care what President Zelenskyy says about me or anybody else," Vance continued. "But he showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump has said is the policy of the American people and of their president."
"This thing cannot go on forever," he added. "There aren't enough Ukrainian lives, there isn't enough American money, and there isn't enough ammunition to fund this thing indefinitely. The only realistic pathway to bring this thing to a settlement is President Trump's pathway."
A senior Trump official confirmed a major decision. The U.S. is suspending all military aid to Ukraine. The freeze will stay until Ukraine commits to peace talks.