JD Vance did not take Volodymyr Zelensky to task in the way that he famously did earlier this year.
19:11, Fri, Oct 17, 2025 Updated: 19:36, Fri, Oct 17, 2025
President Donald Trump speaks - but JD Vance does not (Image: AP)
US Vice President JD Vance stayed silent as Donald Trump fielded questions in the Oval Office, a marked constrast to the occasion in February when he publicy harangued Volodymyr Zelensky for not saying "thank you". Mr Trump was flanked by Mr Vance and National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio - but did not call on them to make any remarks during a Q and A with reporters.
Mr Trump began by praising his counterpart as a "strong leader" and also talked up his conversation with Vladimir Putin on Thursday. He said: "So many people have died and we want to get it ended."
Mr Zelensky offered his congratulations over the ceasefire in the Middle East, adding: "I am confident that with your help we can end this war."
Mr Trump further insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'wants to end the war'.
However, Volodymr Zelensky, asked what concessions he would be prepared to make, said it was crucial to pile the pressure on Putin in order to bring him to the negotiating table.
He also emphasised the need for security guarantees and weapons, and pushed for the US to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.
Mr Vance appeared happy to take a backseat - in stark contrast to nine months ago, when a scheduled Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky devolved into a public shouting match.
As Zelensky pressed for renewed security guarantees amid stalled peace talks, Mr Vance, positioned prominently beside Trump, interjected sharply to defend the administration's push for negotiations, accusing the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude and obstructionism.
He said: "Mr President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the press," his tone escalating the tension as reporters captured the exchange.
He further amplified Trump's criticisms by portraying Zelensky as unwilling to compromise, insisting that Ukraine's stance risked prolonging the conflict unnecessarily and that the US had already provided ample support without sufficient reciprocity.
Mr Vance's pointed interventions, which Mr Trump echoed with rebukes like "Don't tell us what we're going to feel," underscored the vice president's alignment with the president's hardline approach.
The absence of such a clash this time round is likely to stem from a conscious effort to lower the temperature.
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