Vice President JD Vance sat down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday to give his perspective on what happened during last week's fiery Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which will be one for the history books.
The VP started by jokingly calling the meeting “great T.V.,” but went on to explain that President Trump started with a lot of patience for the Ukrainian leader, even though Zelenskyy was “needling him.”
He said Zelenskyy seemed to be set off by his response to a Polish reporter’s question.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, the former Ohio senator explained the importance of engaging in diplomacy to end Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war when Zelenskyy asked if he could follow up. He described Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, previous failed peace agreements and a 2019 ceasefire that was violated by the Kremlin.
"What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?" Zelenskyy asked incredulously.
"I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country," Vance responded. "I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict."
He then chided the Ukrainian leader for being ungrateful for American aid and questioned if he'd even said thank you during their meeting. Zelenskyy has thanked the United States for its support multiple times on his X account and during a December 2022 address to Congress. (Fox News)
Vance explained he tried to deescalate the situation and wanted to continue in private but Trump was insistent that the American people be witness to the conversation.
"The president has set a very clear goal for his administration. He wants the killing to stop. And I think that it's very important that President Zelenskyy and of course, President Putin, too, they've both got to come to the negotiating table. And that's ultimately where things broke apart," Vance said.
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"I really don't care what President Zelenskyy says about me or anybody else," he added. "But he showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump has said is the policy of the American people and of their president."
WATCH IN FULL: @VP's exclusive interview with @seanhannity pic.twitter.com/mWVoK2cc8H
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 4, 2025
Vance also shared a message with Ukrainians and Zelenskyy:
.@JDVance’s message to Zelensky on the Russia-Ukraine war:
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 4, 2025
“When you’ve lost Lindsey Graham, that means you need to come to the negotiating table and recognize Donald Trump is the only person who has a meaningful plan to save that country.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/hEe9R0KGIJ
