WASHINGTON - All it took was 90 seconds and weeks of agonizing diplomacy melted away spectacularly. President Donald Trump's Oval Office spanking of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday laid bare the limits of a full-court press by U.S. allies aimed at reframing Trump's determination to end the Russian invasion, even if conditions are not to Ukraine's liking.
He also highlighted the profound ways in which Trump feels emboldened to redirect US foreign policy priorities toward his "America First" agenda, in ways that go far beyond those of his tumultuous first term.
The sudden outburst was the sharpest public exchange of words between world leaders in the Oval Office in living memory, as the usual calm work of diplomacy degenerated into finger-pointing, shouting and eye-rolling.
The clash has left the future of U.S.-Ukrainian relations and Kiev's ability to defend itself in a brutal conflict with Russia in mortal danger.
"Either you make a deal or we quit," Trump told Zelensky, underscoring that the US leader intends to dictate a quick end to the war or let his longtime ally continue fighting without his strongest support.
The stunning episode capped a week that proved to be a largely futile effort by U.S. allies to bridge the disagreement between Washington and Kiev and try to dissuade Trump from his flirtation with Moscow.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump to lay the groundwork for a possible European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine aimed at deterring future Russian aggression and to encourage the US president to be more skeptical of Vladimir Putin.
But even as Trump and Macron greeted each other with a clasp of eyelids, the United States broke with its European allies at the United Nations when it refused to blame Russia for the invasion of Ukraine in a series of resolutions on the three-year anniversary of the war.
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Washington and appealed to Trump for the US to provide European countries with "cover" to ensure Ukraine's security on the front line. In essence, he was looking for insurance that if a peace deal is reached, Russia will not restart fighting in the future. Starmer brought flattery and an invitation for a state visit from King Charles III to mollify the request.
That approach seemed to have worked, as Trump struck a more conciliatory tone toward Ukraine, calling US support for the country against the Russian invasion "a very worthy cause" and disavowing any memory of calling the Ukrainian leader a "dictator."
But Trump also brushed off Putin's past broken diplomatic promises, claiming they occurred under other presidents, and said the Russian leader has never broken any commitments to him. This came as his aides were planning a series of meetings with Russian officials to set the stage for a possible Trump-Putin meeting in the coming weeks.
All the while, Trump has focused on securing a financial stake in Ukraine's critical minerals to recoup the tens of billions the US has given Kiev for defence. Zelensky, meanwhile, wanted more than Washington's vague promises that the U.S. would work to preserve its economic interests in Ukraine under the deal, and pushed for more concrete security guarantees.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a defense hawk and Trump's fierce ally, said he warned Zelensky before the meeting not to "jump the gun" in dealing with Trump, who has repeatedly shown a penchant for criticism but a deep distaste for taking criticism.
It was Vance - a longtime critic of U.S. support for Ukraine - who threatened her, insisting that diplomacy was the only way forward.
"What kind of diplomacy are you talking about, JD?" Vance asked. Zelensky, listing Russia's past ceasefire violations. "What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about diplomacy that will end the destruction of your country," Vance replied, before launching into the Ukrainian leader. "Mr. President, with all due respect, I think it's disrespectful of you to come into the Oval Office and try to make that judgment in front of the American media."
Trump then triggered and warned the Ukrainian leader, "You are gambling with World War III and what you are doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that has supported you far more than many believe it should."
Elsewhere, Trump said he was "in the middle", apparently formally disengaging from longstanding US support for Ukraine. He went on to deride Zelensky's "hatred" of Putin as an obstacle to peace.
"You see the hatred he has for Putin," Trump said. "It's very hard for me to make a deal with that kind of hatred."
"It's going to be very difficult to do business that way," Trump told Zelensky as the two leaders talked over each other.
The episode was just the latest example of Trump's brazen moves to change long-held American policy positions in his first six weeks back in office, foreshadowing even more uncertainty for longtime American allies and partners who already felt under pressure to defend their place in Trump's eyes. It comes just weeks after Trump proposed the permanent relocation of Palestinians to Gaza and an American takeover of the territory, and as he doubled down on plans to impose stiff tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada starting next week.
After the Oval Office spat, Zelensky was asked by top Trump advisers to leave the White House - plans for a lunch, a joint press conference and the signing of an economic agreement were cancelled, even as the Ukrainian leader and his aides pushed to "reset" the meeting.
Trump later told reporters he did not want to "embolden" the Ukrainian leader unless he wanted "peace" with Russia - turning what Ukraine saw as an incentive for security guarantees into a cudgel.
"You can't give courage to somebody who doesn't have cards," Trump said.
After that disastrous meeting, Zelensky appeared on Fox News Friday night and told Bret Baier that his public spat with Trump and Vance "was not good for either side." But Zelensky said Trump - who insists Putin is ready to end the three-year grinding war - needs to understand that Ukraine cannot change its stance on Russia on a dime.
Zelensky added that Ukraine would not agree to peace talks with Russia until it had security guarantees against another offensive.
"Everyone (is) afraid that Putin will return tomorrow," Zelensky said. "We want a just and lasting peace."
"It's so sensitive for our people," Zelensky said. "And they just want to hear that America (is) on our side, that America will stay with us. Not with Russia, but with us. That's all."
Zelensky admitted that without US support his country's position would "become more difficult".
After Zelensky repeatedly declined the opportunity to apologize to Trump, he concluded his appearance on Fox with a sheepish expression of regret as he grappled with the reality of Trump's new direction in Washington, "I'm sorry about that."
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