A video of Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova during the intense Oval Office showdown between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the Russia-Ukraine war has gone viral.
In the video, Markarova looked visibly distressed, and she covered her face with her palm and nodded while the three leaders argued.
Best video out of the Zelensky / Trump meeting was the reaction of Ukraine’s ambassador.pic.twitter.com/OGuFhY28S9
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) February 28, 2025
On Friday, Zelenskyy had seen the meeting in the Oval Office as an opportunity to convince the United States not to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Trump-Vance Accuse Zelenskyy Of Being ‘Disrespectful’
Instead, Trump and Vance told him that he was being ‘disrespectful.’ Further, Trump accused Zelenskyy of risking World War III and of being ungrateful to Washington for the military aid provided to Ukraine.
Since assuming the presidency, Trump has shifted toward Russia, alarming traditional allies in Europe and beyond while leaving Ukraine increasingly vulnerable. The already tense meeting escalated when Vance emphasised the importance of diplomacy in resolving Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. With his arms crossed, Zelenskyy pushed back, arguing that Putin could not be trusted and pointing out that Vance had never visited Ukraine.
Trump cut short his talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy after Oval Office blow-up, reported AP. The US President took to his social media platform Truth Social and remarked that Zelenskyy is “not ready for peace if America is involved”.
Minerals Agreement Remains Unsigned
The exchange occurred when the three leaders had gathered originally intended to focus on a minerals deal agreement. Instead, the agreement, which Kyiv and its European allies had hoped would usher in better relations, was left unsigned and in limbo.
