Friday’s Diplomatic Meltdown: What Happened After the Press Left the Oval Office
The deal “would have bound the United States and Ukraine together economically for a generation for critical minerals that we need, economic investment that they need.”
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz appeared on Fox & Friends Sunday morning to discuss what transpired in the Oval Office following Friday’s heated exchange between President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the segment was Waltz’s observation that while Zelensky’s ambassador and adviser “were practically in tears,” he remained “argumentative.”
Co-host Charlie Hurt asked Waltz to describe the scene after the press was dismissed. Waltz explained that he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other Trump administration officials convened a meeting and unanimously concluded that there was no viable path forward following the tense exchange. They advised Trump that Zelensky should be asked to leave. Trump agreed, tasking Waltz and Rubio with delivering the message to Zelensky and his team.
Waltz firmly rejected reports suggesting the confrontation had been a preplanned “ambush” by Trump and Vance, calling such claims “absolutely and categorically false.”
Waltz tells what happened after the fight in the Oval Office – the Ukrainian team was in tears, but Zelensky stayed argumentative
Q: After the press left, you and Rubio told Zelensky he should leave the White House?
Waltz: We had a meeting, and advised the president that after… pic.twitter.com/JoN2zEGP8G
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
Waltz told Hurt they “had [prepared] a beautiful setting in the East Room ready for both leaders to sign that would have bound the United States and Ukraine together economically for a generation for critical minerals that we need, economic investment that they need.”
Waltz referred to commitments recently made by leaders of the UK and France to “put boots on the ground” and NATO’s secretary general, whom Trump “had just spoken to about broader security guarantees.” So this really could have been – and should have been – a positive moment for Ukraine. And then we go to further negotiating with the Russians, bring this war to an end, move the world forward and stop the death and destruction.”
Waltz: We had a beautiful setting in the East Room ready for both leaders to sign that would have bound the US and Ukraine together economically for a generation.
It involved critical minerals, investment, and commitments from the UK and France to put boots on the ground.… pic.twitter.com/ug0ttSqaLL
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
Waltz continued: “What became clear and I think what has the president so frustrated and, frankly, angry, is that it’s not clear that Zelensky truly wants to stop the fighting. And he came in, even though he was warned not to, determined to litigate all of that in front of the entire world.
“And the vice president said enough is enough. The president said enough is enough. And I gotta tell you, this was the wrong approach, wrong time in history, and definitely the wrong president to try to do this kind of a thing. This was not Joe Biden. This was Donald J. Trump. And I think the entire world saw that, crystal clear.”
Waltz: The President [Trump] was frustrated and angry because it’s unclear if Zelensky truly wants to stop the fighting. The President and VP said enough is enough.
This [lecturing] was the wrong approach, wrong time, and the wrong president to try to do this kind of a thing.… pic.twitter.com/tpxVMbWiiy
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
Hurt asked how Zelensky reacted after the press left. “Was he surprised?”
Waltz said Zelensky was not surprised, but his team was. “His ambassador and adviser were practically in tears, wanting this to move forward. But Zelensky was still argumentative. Finally, I said, ‘Look Mr. President, time is not on your side here, … on the battlefield, … and in terms of the world situation. And most importantly, USAID and the taxpayers’ tolerance is not unlimited.”
Q: How did Zelensky react after press left? Was he surprised?
Waltz: No. His team was. “His ambassador and his adviser were practically in tears, wanting this to move forward. But Zelensky was still argumentative.”
I said “Mr. President, time is not on your side here, on the… pic.twitter.com/TJtxyJedBt
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
Waltz is certain Zelensky “is used to hearing ‘as long as it takes,’ ‘as much as it takes,’ ‘blank check,’ and ‘the United States really doesn’t have much of a say. You can determine the outcome.’ … He has not gotten the memo that there is a new sheriff in town. This is a new president and we are determined to take a new approach towards peace.”
Waltz: I think Zelensky is used to hearing that “as long as it takes” and blank check from Biden.
He has not gotten the memo that this is a new sheriff in town.
This is a new president, and we are determined to take a new approach towards peace. 5/ pic.twitter.com/2cXXXOVAF7
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
In the end, Waltz believes that Zelensky “did his country a true disservice. … If you disagree with how we’re gonna end the war – fine. But you do that behind closed doors, not the way this was done. It was wholly unacceptable.”
Waltz: Zelensky did his country a true disservice. If you disagree with how we’re gonna end the war – fine.
But you do that behind closed doors, not the way this was done. It was wholly unacceptable. 6X pic.twitter.com/EQrKG7bBZ3
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 2, 2025
There may have been a brief window early in the war when Ukraine could have won. Russian President Vladimir Putin had not anticipated the magnitude of support Ukraine would receive from the international community. Had former President Joe Biden not slow walked essential military equipment from the start, the Ukrainian army, which had tremendous momentum, had a fighting chance.
But the conflict that Putin thought would take two weeks now grinds into its fourth year. It’s turned into a war of attrition. Without intervention, it could continue for years to come.
Fox News reported that during a meeting with Zelensky and European Union leaders on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented a framework for a peace deal, although he admits “it relies heavily on assumed U.S. support.”
According to Fox, Zelensky remains largely unapologetic [about Friday’s explosive Oval Office meeting], saying after Sunday’s meetings in Europe that the ‘best security guarantees are a strong Ukrainian army.'”
He added, “The failure of Ukraine would not just mean Putin’s success, it would be a failure for Europe, it would be a failure for the U.S.”
Zelensky must understand that Trump sees the situation quite a bit differently. Trump has taken the possibility of a U.S. security guarantee off the table and he’s not going to change his mind.
But Ukraine’s national security would plainly benefit from the presence of U.S. mining companies inside their country. Russia would think twice about an attack on Ukraine if U.S. business interests were involved.
In a Sunday appearance on Fox, Rubio expressed optimism that the U.S. and Ukraine can mend ties following the tense White House meeting. We’ll wait and see.
Elizabeth writes commentary for The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation and a member of the Editorial Board at The Sixteenth Council, a London think tank. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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Comments
The EU and the Democrats planned this farce. Zelensky is the one that demanded this meeting, The Democrats were publicly bragging about saying they told Zelensky it was a bad deal and that he needed ‘security guarantees’, clearly thought they had the support of RINOs like Lindsey Graham, and they thought they could play out this farce for the cameras and force Trump to keep funding their forever war.
Instead the exact opposite has happened. Zelensky performed his role so badly that even LINDSEY GRAHAM couldn’t support him anymore. Non-far leftists support Trump over Zelensky, and the EU coordinated propaganda has had the exact opposite effect they intended.
Instead of ‘shaming’ Americans into paying their bills, it’s been met with the reaction of, ‘Great, fund your precious war yourselves’.
Trump and Vance making a prat out of themselves and being Putin stooges just makes Trump and Vance look bad. Zelensky is now more popular than before. Its not clear to me how your statements even logically follow, Vance ambushed Zelensky and Trump took the bait
clearly thought they had the support of RINOs like Lindsey Graham
They DID have the support… until Zelensky decided to have a size-measuring contest in front of the cameras. He chose… poorly.
There will be no fence mending and I’m glad of it
Pull our military out of Western Europe and into Hungary
Reports are that several vile, subversive and fifth columnist Dhimmi-crat apparatchiks encouraged Zelensky to throw his little tantrum, in an attempt to sabotage #47’s diplomacy. To wit, Susan Rice and other members of the wretched and corrosive Obama cabal. Nobody should be surprised that the Dhimmi-crats would stoop so low to undermine the sitting POTUS — they’ve done this, before.
“But you do that behind closed doors, not the way this was done. It was wholly unacceptable.”
Before this meeting I saw a Zelesky comment to him wanting some changes. I think that he thought he was going to get away with being a big shot in front of the cameras, and that America would be caught off guard, and cave to his ambush. He sure screwed up, and he has doubled down on it.
I think that we should develop our ow rare earth capabilities, the same is true about reindustrialization of America. Right now, I think we should be pursuing Greenland.
The Democrats are committed to: the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. They are belting out the same old tunes. Trump has adapted.
Thanks to ‘the moron’, we’ve officially switched sides from Ukraine to Russia. Led by a lying scumbag-Putin. Guess him and ‘the moron’ can relate!
Elizabeth- your MAGA fangirling is getting embarassing. If you want to be a journalist -be one. If you track your moral compass to somebody who has 3 frauds, sexual assaut , libel, 34 felony counts on his resume, it ain’t a good look
Tj, you should post that set of pre-programmed failed talking points elsewhere if you want any atta-boys from it.
The American public has weighed in, and rejected the Russia Russia Russia hoax and all the other lawfare hoaxes you allude to, Historically, Americans dislike show trials, and have judged the trials of Trump as being such.
I recall you to this exchange….
Princess Leia Organa: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers. Grand Moff Tarkin: Not after we demonstrate the power of this station.
Well, all your “stations” (ABC, CBS, NBC, et Alia) have failed to destroy the giant orange target you picked as a demonstration of your “power”.
If you mean failed talking points by facts maybe you should reconsider your post
Trump is a felon x34 fact
Trump was held liable for sexual assault fact
Trump and co, held liable for fraud fact
Its embarrassing that you still have no idea what happened with Russia influence campaign, or involvement in the Trump campaign etc. This is established fact you being ignorant of facts doesn’t suddenly mean that goes away.
Do you think facts are voted on lol
And none of those are disqualifiers per the Constitution. Voters saw through the lawfare and fake news and we elected him anyway.
What is great about leftists is that they cannot stop fighting wars they’ve not only already lost but wars others have already moved on from
Tell you what sweetie, you just keep barking at the moon like a little puppy dog and us adults will do all the important stuff while intellectual Pygmies like you are side tracked
What’s great about the right wing is that they believe there own nonsense and therefore keep voting for people who keep screwing them over. How is inflation lol
Angry little person today, eh? Or, as AOC likes to say, you just want to date him. Does the fake laugh come next?
Little Person Syndrome (Small petty mind) often goes hand in hand with TDS.
Seriously who pays you to post this drek and how much do they pay you.
For the brainiacs that pretend others are the morons, the EU spends far more money buying gas from Russia than it does in aid to Ukraine. Explain that one brainiac.
And yet Americans picked him over joe and Kamala. Enjoy your President for the next four years and remember that there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it!
Trump followed by 8 years of Vance, by then maybe DeSantis might have a shot
Did you even read the article, dumbass?
Can you point out exactly *how* “we’ve officially switched sides?”
Never mind, I don’t even want to hear it.
You really are a facile idiot.
tjv1156 is probably DEI, mad now that palms are no longer being greased.
https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/we-have-effectively-switched-sides-in-the-russia-ukraine-war/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=hero&utm_content=related&utm_term=first
But, as far as we can tell, Trump trusts Putin. The American president has demanded no concessions from Russia, no denunciation of its war crimes, not even a peep of criticism. No one in this administration wants to publicly say the obvious fact that Russia invaded Ukraine. This is an administration that fears the hostile dictators who are genuine threats to America and makes up for that insecurity by berating and bullying democratic allies.
That’s our policy now — we side and stand with the aggressor.
LOL. The National Review? Jim Geraghty, the never-Trump neocon?
You would have been better off posting a Bill Kristol link from The Bulwark.
You really aren’t a very serious person, are you, boyo.
The only proper ‘side’ for the US Govt is the side of the Citizens of the USA. Washington and Eisenhower had much to say about those who would place other factors in front of the material interests of US Citizens. Refusing to participate in someone else’s war isn’t taking a side much less switching sides.
As.for National Review…. please they are the last stop before the Bulwark for neocon globalist hacks with more allegiance to keeping their grift flowing than the interests of their fellow Citizens.
You think a bunch of billionaires is on the side of the people, wow you are gullible
Jim Geraghty hates Trump. And the truth is that Geraghty has no idea what Trump has asked of Putin.
Jim geraghty hates Trump. You ( from what I see ) idolize him.
Stalemate.
But in Geraghty’s case, I think it’s more like he sees him for who really is.
A narcissitic , serial lying a-hole .No well thought out policy ideas getting Uninformed about almost every issue compounded by the fact that he doesn’t seem ever take advice from anybody . He’s such an a-hole nobody can stand working for which is why the turnover in his first administration was so staggeringly high. ( He’s not taking any chances this time -he’s stacked the deck with MAGA lackeys) . So many of his top aides declared him unfit for office-unprecedented in our nation’s history. As I’ve stated many times here, he has a criminal resume that would bar him from employment almost anywhere..He has NO business holding any public office, let alone President. You can try that lame lawfare bs all you want but it is just that- MAGA BS. I think this is what Jim Geraghty( and many of the other intelligent conservative/libertarian at NR and Reason) sees.
Tell us more about this “democracy” in Ukraine. Are you referring to the censorship, the cancelled elections, the closed churches, or the assassination of foreigners (journalists, even), or all of the above? Seems like a Dem’s utopia, but nothing like democracy.
BTW, a recent poll says 64% of Ukrainians disapprove of Z’s antics at the White House. Wouldn’t “democracy” call either for Z to apologize and get in line with his people’s interests (at least as they see it, even if you don’t) or to step aside and declare a snap election?
Elections aren’t allowed during wartime, none of the measures in place are unusual for a democracy that’s been invaded and is fighting an existential crisis.
Your just wrong on your stat, 65% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky following the meeting according to one poll, I found no such reference to one you mention
It’s hard to tell The National Review from The New Republic these days.
Or even, sadly, from Slate.
They’ve chosen to die sewerward with nary a look back.
The only things that are getting embarrassing are your unhinged screeds.
Silence, moron/fool/dunce/imbecile!
Take your infantile opinions to the children’s table, where they belong.
You are the professional moron. So consistently witless, it’s embarrassing.
Back in 2022, Vance appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast and declared, “I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.”
Vance later walked back that statement, but he probably shouldn’t have. His actions, statements, and stances since then confirm that’s what he thinks, believes, and feels. (Recall that Vance’s GOP convention speech had just three vague and brief sentences on foreign policy.) Vance clearly views Zelensky with irrepressibly bristling contempt, a contempt that anyone in this administration — including those with previous hawkish reputations such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz — have yet to demonstrate toward Putin.
This is an atypically literate post of yours, which means you lifted it from somewhere else.
Pro tip, dickweed. If you copypaste from somewhere else, you need to use quotes and attributions.
Don’t you know anything, Johnny?
Vance even then correctly identified a situation that’s none of our business. Ukraine was not then, and is still not, a member of NATO. We were in no way obligated to help defend it. It is a strictly European, non-NATO issue in which our involvement creates more danger for everyone involved. Morally, Ukraine is well known as one of the most corrupt states in the world. It is decidedly not a paragon of democracy, deserving of our defense. In a contest between Russia and Ukraine, there is little to separate the players. A pox on both their houses.
Trump is correct to be laser-focused on stopping the war because of the threat it poses to the entire world. It seems you might only be satisfied if our involvement in it concludes with a nuclear exchange.
Why should he have cared what happens to the Ukraine? If Russia were to win this war in the end, and permanently destroy all Ukrainian hopes for independence, how would the USA be any worse off? How would any of us be worse off?
And, on the flip side, how would we, as Americans be any better off?
I can imagine ways in which we might be better off, in general, if Putin loses (not necessarily Russia). But he’s mostly already done that, what with his exceeding even the “2 weeks to flatten the curve” that turned into a year.
That’s part of the reason for the mineral deal: it gave us a “What if Z/Putin wins/loses?” skin in the game. And Z was dumb enough to toss that in the dumpster.
Please cite National Review when copying and pasting directly from their website or emails. I’ve read the article.
Keep beating that dead horse, child. Notice that _nobody_ is coming to your defense.
real journalism from intelligent ,princeipled conservatives.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/02/an-ugly-oval-office-spat/
After a long, somewhat touch-and-go exchange of views in front of reporters, things broke down when Vance opined that, after President Biden’s ineffectual tough words, it’s time for diplomacy. Zelensky related the diplomatic failures after Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and asked Vance if that’s the kind of diplomacy he’s talking about.
Vance, and then Trump, too, reacted by berating Zelensky. They belittled his country’s position in the war, called him an ingrate, and made open threats about abandoning his country.
This was shocking behavior, especially when it is unimaginable that they’d ever dare treat Vladimir Putin in a similar fashion. But it is Zelensky’s misfortune to lead a beleaguered, relatively small country dependent on U.S. aid, putting him in the position of a vulnerable supplicant.
So if diplomacy is out the window does Zelensky propose to defeat Russia or to be defeated by Russia? Those are the other two options and so far Ukraine is getting curb stomped. He’s very likely gonna be without US assistance due to his attitude of entitlement.
He didn’t act like a supplicant whose Nation is on the verge of losing even more territory in their losing effort to.fight Russia. Instead he chose to put his personal ego ahead of the interests of his People by PO the President, the VP and most of our Nation’s voters with his antics. We don’t owe Ukraine jack squat and most of us are past the point of cutting them off. Let the European Nations who profess to be worried about Putin pay for this war….though they’d need to triple their own defense budgets to.get close.to 5% GDP which outside Poland they have refused to do. Money talks and BS walks, time for action on the European Nations part.
You’re a moron. This was great news and Forcing Europe to commit to some significant contribution, much less their part, is even better news.
What’s your plan for victory in this war? What realistic chance is there for Z to regain the territory taken already (plus Crimea!) and on to Moscow for regime change? Without triggering WWW?
WW3…
PIMF.
Do you TRY to look like a complete idiot, or does it just come naturally?
Look, Mr Vindman, you really should try looking at it from an American perspective, instead of a Ukrainian one. The rest of us here (with the exception of an Israeli or two, I think) are Americans. That’s our concern. It evidently is not yours. Go get a bear claw.
What an idiotic point of view. Adolescents shouldn’t be allowed on this site. As you gain experience, you will discover there are few binary choices. Rejecting Little Z doesn’t translate into support for Putin. YOU have a moral compass??? The guy who can’t recognize Little Z for the wannabe Dictator he is? The guy who doesn’t even think to ask why Little Z wants the war to continue on and on? That is the guy claiming to have a moral compass? Drag yourself out of the Swamp before you make ridiculous claims.
the accusations you list have never been adjuducated in a court of law as valid.
Gotta nuther load of Brown Stuff to unload today? Go find a different patch of dirt. This ain’t the proper repository for your filth.
France and the UK are now talking with Z and promising him funds and boots on the ground – IF – the US takes part.
Sans a reason in our own national interest – like, say Ukraine being a source for strategically needed minerals – that last bit ain’t gonna happen. And we’re not taking part until the War is at least in treaty hiatus – otherwise starting WW III is too likely.
The UK funding is reported as 1% of what the US has been giving.
The euro crowd can’t even afford to meet their military NATO goals, or so they’ve said themselves. In this case at least, we are The Only Viable Option.
It’s not even them promising him money. They are promising to give him access to credit to buy their weapons from their companies
My guess is Z will have to resign for progress to be made.
I’m not sure he’s capable of taking rational action like that?
He may get an offer he can’t afford to refuse.
In Russia it’s always been traditional to “resign” by suicide – perhaps shooting your self in the back of the head 3 or 4 times.
If Putin were to return the Ukraine all the territory he’s seized after all the dead Russian sons whose lives he spent to buy that ground, he might undergo a Russian resignation. Which is why Z’s demand that all seized land be returned is unlikely to float.
Him being assassinated would turn him in to a saint so don’t think that is a good option at all.
Maybe he’ll be made an offer he can’t refuse and he’ll see it as his way to sainthood, but like staying alive kind of sainthood
It takes a real idiot to believe that Trump is on Putin’s side. Then again, Trump was a dictator turned puppet to Musk, so there’s plenty of idiocy all around.
https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/we-have-effectively-switched-sides-in-the-russia-ukraine-war/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=hero&utm_content=related&utm_term=first
The heart of this dispute is the cold hard fact that Donald Trump trusts Vladimir Putin a lot more than he trusts Zelensky. The president explicitly said so.
The Russian government has broken its promises and assurances in peace treaties in Chechnya, Georgia, and Syria, as well as the Budapest Memorandum that was supposed to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for giving up the nuclear weapons stationed on its soil. Putin violated the extension of the START treaty that Joe Biden bragged about for a year. Vladimir Putin, and the regime he heads, lies, lies, and lies some more, and he was raised and shaped and came up through the ranks in a system that lied as easily as it breathed. As a KGB officer stationed in Dresden in the 1980s, regularly accessing files over at the Stasi regional headquarters across the street, Putin lied for a living.
Your first comment showed where you are coming from, so spare the analysis as if you are now just into discourse. People are well-schooled about Putin and even Zelenskyy. The war has a long way to go. Suffering be damned. As if you care. Roosevelt dealt with Stalin. It’s called the real world. But you like to chase morons. Wonder why?
he’s just copypasting the TDS drivel from National Review.
Yep, Putin is a bad man.
But unless he becomes a great risk to the USA, why do we need to be the one to go out and fight him? Russia isn’t the Soviet Union. We are no longer the world’s police. We’re dropping our star in the street like Cooper at the end of High Noon.
Zelensky assumed he pull this stunt to lecture the POTUS and VP in public at the WH and there wouldn’t be any repercussions. Whomever told him this would be an effective strategy to advance the interests of Ukraine is either stupid, insane or guilty of sabotage.
If all the whining soy boys really believe that it matters to the vast majority of US Citizens which Eastern European autocrat comes out a winner they can go and sign up for duty with the Ukrainian Army and prove their case. Better bring some cash and their own kit though b/c both seem to be going missing over there. I’d wish them good luck and good riddance but these whining little boys won’t risk their own skin to stand up and actually fight for what they claim to believe.
won’t risk their own skin
The Vindmans being the chief among them.
Zelensky – were you used?
Used like a little bitch.
If ever there was someone deserving the name “tool,” it’s Z.
Tool- I would say that would perfectly describe the two Pillsbury dougboys in th at room! Putin probably send then each a dozen big Macs for helping him out! LAFFRIOT
You’d sound much more erudite if you’d just go back to plagiarizing other people’s stuff.
It was a preplanned suicide bombing by the leftist Euroturds (which is almost all of them). They suited Zelenskyyiyiy up and sent him in.
It sounds retarded … but it’s typical of the Euroturds. This is the sort of retarded stuff they’ve been doing to the US since we saved their sorry azzes for the second time n WWII. Euroturd envy of America knows no bounds and only grows with every Euroturd failure – which means that it’s been monotonically increasing all this time.
“But the conflict that Putin thought would take two weeks now grinds into its fourth year.”
Because he jinxed it.
He told his generals it would be “just two weeks to flatten the Kyiv.”
The only heat in that meeting came from Trump and his vile ex-Marine side kick. Zelensky never raised his voice.