In a noticeable shift of tone, U.S. Vice President JD Vance remained silent as Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Cabinet Office of the White House. The moment stood in stark contrast to their fiery encounter earlier this year, when Vance openly confronted Zelensky over his failure to express gratitude for U.S. support.
During this week’s meeting, Trump led the conversation while Vance and National Security Adviser/Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood by his side. Unlike in February, Trump did not invite Vance to speak or comment as he took questions from reporters.
Trump praised Zelensky as a “strong leader” and emphasized the urgent need to end the war, saying:
“So many people have died, and we want to get it ended.”
Zelensky, in turn, congratulated Trump on the Middle East ceasefire and expressed hope that with U.S. backing, Ukraine could “end this war.” He also highlighted the importance of security guarantees and advanced weapon systems, urging Washington to approve long-range Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine’s defense.
Trump reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to end the war,” while Zelensky stressed that any peace process must include continued pressure on Moscow to ensure meaningful negotiations.
Observers noted that JD Vance’s reserved demeanor was a striking change from his combative performance nine months ago. Back then, an Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky had turned tense when Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of being “ungrateful” and “uncompromising.”
At that time, Vance told Zelensky:
“Mr. President, with respect, it’s disrespectful to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the press.”
His remarks escalated tensions, with Trump backing him up, portraying Zelensky as unwilling to compromise and warning that Ukraine’s approach could prolong the conflict.
This time, however, the atmosphere appeared far more controlled. Insiders suggest the quieter tone was likely a deliberate move to project unity and avoid another public clash, as the administration tries to balance diplomacy with domestic political optics.
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