The world is still holding its breath, waiting to see what unfolds now that the dust has settled from Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s explosive meeting at the White House.
On February 28, the world watched in disbelief as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance joined forces to publicly berate and belittle the Ukrainian president. Zelenskyy had arrived in Washington with hopes of securing a deal that could finally bring an end to Ukraine’s war with Russia—a war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Instead of being met with diplomacy and respect, Zelenskyy found himself under attack. Trump and Vance raised their voices, demanding gratitude for the support the U.S. had provided so far, dismissing the urgency of Ukraine’s struggle. What should have been a crucial step toward peace quickly devolved into a spectacle of hostility, leaving no room for meaningful negotiations.
To his credit, Zelenskyy remained composed despite the relentless criticism, but the damage was done. The already fragile relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine suffered a significant blow as the meeting unraveled in full view of the world’s press. When the ordeal ended, Zelenskyy and his delegation were asked to leave the White House early. In a final blow, Trump later announced that the U.S. would suspend all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
In the days that followed, diplomatic efforts continued behind closed doors, and intelligence-sharing was eventually restored after more constructive discussions in Jeddah. However, the lasting impact of Trump’s reluctance to challenge Vladimir Putin remains unclear.
Zelenskyy later addressed the Oval Office fiasco with a measured response, calling the events “regrettable” in a statement. “It is regrettable that it happened this way,” he wrote. “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”
The Ukrainian president also took a subtle jab at the criticism he received over his attire during the meeting. Dressed in black trousers, boots, and a sweater embroidered with the Ukrainian trident—a symbol of resilience—he was accused by one journalist of “not respecting the dignity” of the Oval Office simply because he had not worn a suit.
Zelenskyy’s response was sharp but restrained. “I will wear a ‘costume’ when the war is finished,” he remarked. “Maybe something like yours, maybe something better. We will see—maybe something cheaper.”
His wit was on display again during an awards ceremony in Kyiv on March 9. Wearing a similar outfit to the one he had in Washington, he congratulated the recipients before adding, with unmistakable sarcasm, “Apologies that I am not wearing a suit.”
Diplomatic progress was made after a meeting in Saudi Arabia, where a joint statement confirmed that Ukraine had accepted a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The deal could take effect if Russia agrees—a possibility that remains uncertain as the world watches for the next move.