Washington DC
CNN
–
The White House chef worked at West Wing on Friday, laying out plates of rosemary chicken, celery root puree and collard greens.
Inside, there was an incredible scene. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had begun to humiliate guest Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky in the public implosion of major global relations invisible to date.
For Ukrainian supporters, the moment was disastrous. In 10 minutes, it was possible that they had been wrong in a meeting between the two stubborn leaders.
But for all the shocks, it wasn’t an unexpected result. Certainly, until the talk aimed at reaching its peak by signing a new agreement on rare earth minerals, many of both men’s allies quietly wondered whether their already flammable dynamics would end in victory or catastrophe.
Efforts have been made to prepare Zelensky for a successful encounter with Trump. The Ukrainian president was warned to focus head on the mineral trade and avoid being drawn into the fight.
“I told him this morning, ‘Don’t take the food, don’t let the media or anyone else get you into a discussion with President Trump. What he’s doing today is to reset the relationship,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was one of a group of Republican and Democrat senators who met Zelensky before coming to the White House.
Other European leaders who passed through the building this week provided Zelensky with their own guidance, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Still others, including US officials, tried to discourage Zelensky from making a trip to Washington at all. He believed that he still needed work to strengthen what had already become hostile.
Still, by the time Zelensky was pulling to the White House gates on Friday, it was impossible to predict how the 139 minutes that followed would explode.
A stepping out of his black SUV wearing what has become his standard uniform – a Drab military shirt and pants – Zelensky disbelieved the tension with Trump, who was walking through the halls of the West Wing to welcome him.
However, some American officials looking from afar have discovered the problem of Zelensky’s attire.
“Yeah, you’re all dressed,” Trump said in an air of sarcasm as he greeted Zelensky and waved.
Before the oval office meeting was left to the screams, Zelensky was asked by a reporter from the right-wing outlet. The White House was portrayed as if he was in a room during his lecture – why was he not wearing a suit in the best offices in the United States?
“After this war is over, I will wear my costume, yes,” Zelensky said in response in English. “Maybe something like you, yes, maybe better. I don’t know, we’ll see. Maybe something cheap. Thank you.”
Perhaps Zelensky never arrived empty-handed after taking lessons from a parade of foreign leaders who preceded him at the White House last month. He brought the UFC belt won last year by Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
The colorful gold belts supported by one of the end tables as the two men began to speak, not mentioned during the lecture, and glowed under the light.
During the first 40 minutes of their speech, Trump did not prove an outwardly bitterness towards Zelensky, instead discussing the mineral trade they had planned to sign later that day.
Certainly, on the second floor of the east room there was a long wooden table for the signature ceremony, and four chairs for the signer.
That was never the case.
Joining the conversation after remaining almost silent, Vance was inserted – “Wait. Hey, I want to answer this” – to insist on Trump’s efforts to end the conflict.
“The path to peace and prosperity may probably be engaged in diplomacy,” he commented to Zelensky.
It’s where everything went south.
After three years of stubborn Western support, Zelensky of Bristling, who himself is unfamiliar with public responsibilities, laid out Russia in a broken ceasefire in the past.
“What diplomacy, JD, are you talking? What – do you have – what do you mean? What do you mean?” he asked incredibly.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that will end the destruction of your country,” Vance replied from his place on the sofa next to Trump.
It only deviated from there.
“I think it’s rude to you to come to an oval office to try and litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance said with a sharp responsibility. “We should thank the President for trying to end this conflict.”
When Zelensky failed to some extent and tried to get the words, Trump exploded with rage.
“You don’t have a card now,” he yells, speaking over Zelensky as he opposed.
“You live and gamble millions of people,” he cried. “You’re gambling with World War II.”
Minutes later, Trump rejected the media from the room.
“This is going to be a great TV, I’ll say it,” he cried out as a reporter submitted.
The rattle Ukrainian delegation, including the Ukrainian ambassador for Washington Oksana Markarova, stopped taking notes during the meeting, only gaining his head, left the oval office and reorganized into a Roosevelt room just below the hall.
Flocking with his own key advisers to assess the situation, including Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, Trump felt furious and disrespected by Zelensky’s tone.
“Zelensky played it as wrong as he could play it. He came to an oval that behaves like a tough guy. It didn’t work. Everyone in the room felt humiliated,” one US official said. “Now Zelensky has to find a way to fix this himself. He can’t fix it for him.”
The president ultimately decided that Zelensky was “not in a place to negotiate,” a White House official said. He instructed Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz to convey his message to the Ukrainians waiting nearby. It’s time for Zelensky to leave.
“We don’t have time here,” Waltz told Fox News on Saturday, recounting his conversation with Zelensky. “There is no time on the battlefield. There is no time in terms of world circumstances. Most importantly, US aid and taxpayer tolerance are not unlimited.”
The Ukrainians protested and protested, saying they wanted to continue discussions, White House officials said. However, the request was denied.
The Ukrainians were instructed to leave as plates of salad, chicken and creme brulee were planned for lunch, as they were eating in carts in the hallway outside the press secretary’s office.
The surreal day of broken diplomacy unfolded in less than three hours.
Zelensky’s motorcade left the White House gates at 1:42pm. He was driven a little further away to the Hay Adams Hotel, where he and his advisor were staying.
Less than an hour later, he sent a message on social media expressing his gratitude to his host. He said, “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we work precisely for that.”
By then, the White House, which had begun its day in search of a deal with Ukraine, had suddenly changed course and tried to turn the diplomatic turmoil into a moment of power by launching an astonishing public relations attack.
“President Trump and VP Vance are standing up for the Americans,” the White House said in the first statement in several statements Friday afternoon. A few hours later, another message was sent with words of support from members of the Trump Cabinet.
“Amen, President,” said Defence Secretary Pete Hegses.
Graham, a close ally of Trump, who met Zelensky earlier in the day, walked towards the camera outside the West Wings. He urged Zelensky to apologize or consider coming aside.
“I have never been more proud of the president,” Graham said.
Meanwhile, the setup for Trump and Zelensky’s press conferences has been demolished in the east room of the White House. A large table has left for two leaders to sign the contract against three Ukrainians and three American flags.
For the next few hours, Trump worked with his staff inside the West Wing. He was seen in an oval office along with his Chief of Staff and other advisers before heading out to leave the White House over the weekend.
Marine Wan waited, but Trump stopped talking again and tried to stamp him on the turn of the day’s amazing event.
“He’s going to keep fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting,” Trump told reporters on South Lawn. “We’re about to end death.”
Asked if Zelensky wanted to step down, Trump refused to answer directly, simply saying, “I want someone who makes peace.”
The Whirlwind Day in Washington was nearing the end as Trump boarded Air Force 1 and flew to his Mar Lago resort over the weekend. Shortly after takeoff, Zelensky competed in Fox News to come for an interview Trump saw on a presidential aircraft.
Zelensky said he didn’t think Trump was owing an apology for the fiery explosion in his oval office, but he regretted that it all unfolded on television that the world could see.
“I don’t think that was good,” Zelenxy told Fox News’ Brett Baier. “I don’t think it was good.”
However, he said he believes Trump’s relationship with America will survive.
“Your people helped us save our people,” Zelensky said. “We’re very grateful.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with additional information.
