Days after a contentious Oval Office exchange with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his gratitude for America's continued backing in Ukraine's defense against Russia. In a video statement posted on X, Zelenskyy underscored the significance of US aid, stating, "We fully recognize America's role and deeply appreciate all the support we have received from the United States."

His remarks followed a tense meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, where both American leaders criticized him for allegedly not showing enough appreciation for US assistance.

"Not a single day has passed without our acknowledgment of gratitude. Our independence is preserved because of the efforts of our allies—Ukraine’s resilience is closely tied to the contributions of our partners, who are also safeguarding their own security," Zelenskyy added.

Tensions escalated when Vance advocated for negotiations with Russia to end the war, a proposal Zelenskyy firmly rejected. Trump then reprimanded the Ukrainian leader, asserting that without American support, Ukraine would have succumbed to Russian forces long ago.

The meeting ended on a sour note, with Zelenskyy departing in his motorcade earlier than planned and foregoing a scheduled joint press conference. Additionally, a pivotal minerals trade agreement between the US and Ukraine, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s economy and security, remained unsigned.

His statement came after attending a major security summit in London, where global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, discussed ways to reinforce Ukraine's defense.

"There is unity on the fundamental issue—true peace requires real security guarantees," Zelenskyy emphasized, noting that European nations, alongside the UK and Turkey, aligned with Ukraine’s position.

ZELENSKYY'S WHITE HOUSE MEETING TURNS CONTENTIOUS

The highly anticipated White House discussion between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly turned confrontational, culminating in Zelenskyy being asked to leave. What was intended as a diplomatic engagement to discuss Ukraine’s war effort spiraled into accusations, raised voices, and the cancellation of a joint press conference.

At the outset, the leaders exchanged formalities, shaking hands and posing for the cameras. Trump, as expected, boasted that had he been in office earlier, the war between Russia and Ukraine would never have occurred.

However, the mood shifted when Trump subtly implied that Ukraine bore responsibility for the war, overlooking the fact that Russia had launched the invasion in 2022.

The situation became particularly charged when Vice President JD Vance, who had largely remained in the background during previous high-level meetings, responded to a journalist’s question about Trump’s perceived alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vance accused Zelenskyy of refusing to acknowledge differing opinions on ceasefire negotiations and faulted him for handling diplomatic matters publicly.

"For four years, we had a president who took a strong stance against Putin, yet Russia still invaded Ukraine and inflicted severe destruction. Perhaps diplomacy is the path to peace," Vance asserted.

As tensions mounted, Vance further accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" toward Trump, claiming that the US president was actively trying to resolve the conflict.

He also took aim at Ukraine’s wartime strategy, remarking, "You're drafting civilians to the front lines because of manpower shortages. You should be expressing gratitude to the president."

Zelenskyy, visibly exasperated, folded his arms and shot back, "Have you been to Ukraine? Have you seen the hardships we face?"

Trump, who had been listening quietly until this point, interjected after Zelenskyy warned that the US would inevitably feel the repercussions of the ongoing war if it persisted. "You are in no position to tell us how we will be affected," Trump retorted.

The situation further deteriorated when Trump chastised Zelenskyy for what he saw as a lack of appreciation, telling him bluntly, "You need to show more gratitude. You don't have the leverage here. You must be more thankful."

Vance then pressed, "Have you said thank you even once in this meeting?"

With tensions at a breaking point, plates of untouched salad and roasted chicken remained on the table, and the planned joint press conference meant to display solidarity between the two nations was abruptly scrapped. Shortly afterward, Zelenskyy was escorted out of the White House, signaling a significant diplomatic fracture between Ukraine and the US.

The fallout was immediate. Russia welcomed the apparent discord between Ukraine and its most influential ally, while world leaders voiced support for Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, a CNN fact-check team reported that, contrary to Trump and Vance’s claims, Zelenskyy had publicly expressed gratitude toward the US at least 33 times since the war began in 2022.