\u00a0Ukraine\u2019s Ambassador Oksana Markarova during heated exchange between Zelensky and President Trump<\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky\u2019s latest attempt to play the tough-guy card on the international stage has imploded in a blaze of diplomatic embarrassment.<\/p>\n
The highly anticipated meeting, intended to solidify a bilateral agreement on the Ukraine\u2019s rare mineral resources, devolved into a contentious confrontation.<\/p>\n
President Trump, accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance, chastised Zelensky for his ingratitude toward U.S. aid and his reluctance to engage in peace negotiations with Russia.<\/p>\n
Trump accused Zelensky of \u201cgambling with World War Three\u201d and questioned his commitment to diplomacy. The heated exchange culminated in Trump abruptly ending the meeting.<\/p>\n
Zelensky:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201c[There are] a lot of questions. Let\u2019s start from the beginning. First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you, but you have a nice ocean [in between], and don\u2019t feel it now, but you will feel it in the future. God bless you.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t tell us what we\u2019re going to feel. We\u2019re trying to solve a problem. Don\u2019t tell us what we\u2019re going to feel\u2026 because you\u2019re in no position to dictate that. Remember this, you\u2019re in no position to dictate what we\u2019re going to feel. We\u2019re going to feel good. We\u2019re gonna feel very good and very strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelensky:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cYou will feel the influence. I\u2019m telling you now you will feel the influence.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re right now, not in a very good position. You\u2019re not in a good position. You don\u2019t have the cards right now with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelensky:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m not playing cards right now, I\u2019m very serious Mr President. I am a wartime president.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump:<\/strong> \u201cYou\u2019re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You\u2019re gambling with\u00a0World War Three. You\u2019re gambling with World War Three, and what you\u2019re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, far more than a lot of people say they should.\u201d<\/p>\n During this tumultuous encounter, White House Correspondent of Voice of America Misha Komadovsky captured the poignant reaction of Ukraine\u2019s Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.<\/p>\n Seated near the leaders, Ambassador Markarova was seen placing her head in her hands and facepalming as Zelensky\u2019s bluster crashed and burned.<\/p>\n Assistant to the President & White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino wrote on X<\/a>, \u201cUkrainian Ambassador understands that Zelensky is a complete and total disaster\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n