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News analysis
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine had hoped to secure U.S. support in any cease-fire talks with Russia. Instead, his curdled relationship with President Trump was revealed in the Oval Office.
Feb. 28, 2025Updated 7:03 p.m. ET
It was meant to be a moment of triumph for President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, a chance after weeks of maneuvering for an Oval Office meeting to demonstrate American backing in Europe’s bloodiest war in generations.
Instead, the meeting unraveled into insults. Mr. Zelensky, who had stayed in his country to fight against a Russian onslaught and who rallied much of the world to support Ukraine, was left shaking his head as President Trump said he trusted Russia to uphold a cease-fire.
He was berated by Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance as “disrespectful” for arguing that Russia posed a threat beyond Ukraine. At times, a corner of Mr. Zelensky’s lip curled as the American leaders rebuked him and downplayed the prospects of aid to his army, which is locked in vicious trench warfare with Russia.
Mr. Trump, who raised his voice at times, scolded Mr. Zelensky, saying, “you don’t have the cards.”
Mr. Zelensky responded, “I’m not playing cards.”
The upbraiding in the Oval Office came at a critical juncture in the war, with Ukraine striving to keep Russia at bay in battles of attrition in the country’s east and the Trump administration opening cease-fire talks directly with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Mr. Zelensky at no point backed away from what he has called Ukraine’s critical national interests, laying these out as a seat at the table in cease-fire talks; air defenses to protect Ukrainian cities and power plants; and U.S. military backup for a proposed, European-led peacekeeping force.
