Russia Claims US Foreign Policy Aligning with Its Vision as Trump, JD Vance Criticize Zelenskyy

But last Friday, he was at the center of a theatrical confrontation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy—one that might be the breaking point for the postwar union between the United States and Europe. In this charged Oval Office confrontation, Vance played the dual roles of Trump attack dog and Silicon Valley-style provocateur, doing what he could to fuel hostilities with Ukraine's president.

Vance was the one who first stirred up tensions by accusing Zelenskyy of organizing "propaganda tours" to highlight the destruction wrought by Russia's invasion. His words were direct and belligerent.

I think it's disrespectful to come to the Oval Office and attempt to litigate this before the American public," Vance retorted, his voice rising in anger. "You bring individuals on a propaganda tour, Mr. President … Do you believe that it is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and strike at the administration that is attempting to forestall the ruin of your country?

Zelenskyy, undeterred, came back with a measured threat. "Everyone has issues in the war time," he replied. "But you have good ocean and don't feel it now. But you will feel it in the future."

Trump, clearly agitated, retorted sharply. "You don't know that," he retorted. "You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel."

For Trump, this was a made-for-TV moment, one he later described as “great television.” But for Ukraine, it was a disaster.

This was the second time in recent weeks that Vance had inserted himself into a high-stakes foreign policy dispute. At the Munich Security Conference, he had already unnerved European leaders by criticizing their response to public dissent. “If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you,” he had declared.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had been shocked by Vance's words. "Listening to that speech … they try to pick a fight with us, and we don't want to pick a fight with our friends," she had said.

But on Friday, Vance finally got his fight. Behind the scenes, he has been putting together a foreign policy team intensely wary of Ukraine as a potential ally. At the same time, European officials have rallied to Zelenskyy's defense, seeing the Oval Office confrontation as an indication that Trump's administration is joining forces with Vladimir Putin.

Camille Grand, a veteran NATO official and policy analyst, gave a harsh judgment. "Now is the time to remain cool-headed, but not continue business as usual," he penned. "The US ally has now formally opted to adopt a position at variance with our normally shared interests and values. It may be transitory or enduring, but it will have long-lasting and serious repercussions.

In Washington, suspicions abound that few are willing to state outright: the Trump administration has been looking for a reason to cut ties with Ukraine. The closely managed spin that followed the Oval Office exchange only fueled those suspicions.

"That was a train wreck by design," stated Sam Greene, a professor of Russian politics at King's College London. "The sotto voce conversation since Munich has been about arranging to set Ukraine up to fail. If a genuine deal was going to be impossible, right, then someone would need to get blamed for it, and it would probably be the Ukrainians, right?"

By Friday evening, Trump aides were informing journalists that the administration was so outraged by Zelenskyy's behavior that it was now debating withholding all military assistance to Ukraine, including ammunition, vehicles, and missile deliveries. A White House aide claimed to the Washington Post that the incident had not been scripted.

But the response from Trump's allies was unnervingly consistent.

Lindsey Graham, having taken a photograph with Zelenskyy only hours earlier, tweeted: "America was disrespected and the deal is off. I have never been more proud of President @realDonaldTrump and Vice President @JDVance for standing up for America First."

Marco Rubio, who is now secretary of state and was a vocal supporter of Ukraine, echoed the same. "Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!"

Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg chimed in: "Was honored to be with @POTUS, @VP, and [Rubio] today in the Oval during the bilateral with President Zelensky. As the President has ALWAYS done – he stood for America … America First."

The image that was left from the sit-down was dramatic. A photo from the Oval Office took Rubio and Vance sitting next to each other while Trump abused Zelenskyy. Rubio was clearly uneasy, his hands folded, his eyes cast down. Vance, however, seemed victorious.

He had finally gotten the scrap he was seeking.