'What If A Bomb Drops On You’: Donald Trump Snaps At Reporter Over Russia Ceasefire Question

Last Updated:March 01, 2025, 17:54 IST

The White House spat led to the rest of Zelenskyy's White House visit being canceled and called into question how much the US will still support Ukraine in its defense against Russia's 2022 invasion.

US President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Friday berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the war in Ukraine, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Vance on the question of diplomacy with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

The argument in the Oval Office was broadcast globally. It led to the rest of Zelenskyy’s White House visit being canceled and called into question how much the US will still support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Here is a transcript of the key moments of the exchange.

Zelenskyy challenges Vance on Russia and diplomacy

Vance: “For four years, the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States’ words mattered more than the president of the United States’ actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing."

Zelenskyy: “Can I ask you?"

Vance: “Sure. Yeah."

Zelenskyy: “OK. So he (Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So he occupied it in 2014. So during a lot of years – I’m not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump. And God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people. You know what the –"

Trump: “2015?"

Zelenskyy: “2014."

Trump: “Oh, 2014? I was not here."

Vance: “That’s exactly right."

Zelenskyy: “Yes, but during 2014 ’til 2022, the situation is the same, that people have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations, my bilateral conversation. And we signed with him, me, like, you, president, in 2019, I signed with him the deal. I signed with him, (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?"

Vance: “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict."

Zelenskyy: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?"

Vance: “I have been to -"

Zelenskyy: “Come once."

Vance: “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you’ve had problems, bringing people into your military?"

Zelenskyy: “We have problems -"

Vance: “And do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"

Zelenskyy: “A lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning."

Vance: “Sure."

Trump erupts when Zelenskyy suggests the US might ‘feel it in the future’

Zelenskyy: “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless -"

Trump: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel."

Zelenskyy: “I’m not telling you. I am answering on these questions."

Trump: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that."

Vance: “That’s exactly what you’re doing."

Trump: “You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good."

Zelenskyy: “You will feel influenced."

Trump: “We are going to feel very good and very strong."

Zelenskyy: “I am telling you. You will feel influenced."

Trump: “You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position -"

Zelenskyy: “From the very beginning of the war -"

Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards."

Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious."

Trump: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III."

Zelenskyy: “What are you speaking about?"

Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have."

Vance: “Have you said thank you once?"

Zelenskyy: “A lot of times. Even today."

Vance: “No, in this entire meeting. You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October."

Zelenskyy: “No."

Vance: “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country."

Zelenskyy: “Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can -"

Trump: “He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble."

Zelenskyy: “Can I answer -"

Trump: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble."

Zelenskyy: “I know. I know."

Trump: “You’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us."

Zelenskyy: “Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we’ve been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks."

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world 'What If A Bomb Drops On You’: Donald Trump Snaps At Reporter Over Russia Ceasefire Question