Vice President J.D. Vance was right to point out to Zelenskyy that he ought to be thankful, which President Trump reiterated.
"You wouldn't have lasted two weeks," Trump blasted at Zelenskyy, referring to the potential outcome had Zelenskyy been left to his own devices after Russia's invasion. And I think he's right about that, and while some might suggest its callous to say that out loud, his comment underscores the reality that Ukraine needs the United States badly to end this conflict. It put his other statement to Zelenskyy right in line as well, that he doesn't have the cards. He's got to be willing to compromise and can't hold the illusion that he holds an advantage in peace talks with Russia because he has the backing of the United States.
"I don't want advantage. I want peace," Trump said.
The takeaway from the exchange, granted, will largely depend on one's political stance. The left will undoubtedly criticize this as a terrible and embarrassing act by a sitting president, berating another country's leader in front of the world. However, it's clear to me, and should be clear to anyone honestly taking a step back, that Zelenskyy was trying to play out his defense in the public eye and garner support from the American media, as the vice president suggested.
Watch Zelenskyy's body language throughout the entire meeting, which started off rather benign. You could see it from the minute the meeting began, and you didn't have to be a body language expert to see it. He was agitated, uncomfortably playing with his hands, shifting his body, raising his eyebrows, quivering his upper lip, and at one point folded his arms. In the end, his entire attitude was nothing less than very disrespectful.
It was commendable to acknowledge and defend his troops' courage, and to praise their strength and resolve, and I applaud that. Any leader would be wise to stand firmly in support of their country and its people. However, it is another matter to deny certain facts or try to paint a picture that differs from reality, especially in the very place where you need our help and support to achieve your goal.
And what did he ultimately gain? Nothing at all. The deal was cancelled, and Zelenskyy was essentially sent packing until he can demonstrate a genuine commitment to achieving peace.
Look, I understand Zelenskyy's argument. He didn't start the war—Russia did. But in the end who started it doesn't matter. The war continues to rage on, and if he truly wants it to end, given that Russia clearly has the upper hand here, Zelenskyy will need to swallow his pride and accept even some uncomfortable terms.
He also needs to accept, even if not publicly, that his lasting power against a much stronger military is largely due to the support he's gotten from other countries and especially consider the importance of our support over other nations like the UK and France.
America is a world superpower, and one would be wise to not deny the significance of that reality or risk abandoning it as a force for achieving peace.
Ultimately, what Trump did here was to effectively win the argument and, quite frankly, put Zelenskyy in his place. I don't say this to be arrogant. This isn't to diminish Zelenskyy or the people of Ukraine. But when Zelenskyy tries to play a hand he clearly doesn't have, it defeats his purpose. If Zelenskyy truly wants the war to end, he's going to have to face reality and realize that the only reason he's held on for as long as he has is because he's had a posse behind him to throw a few extra punches.
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© 2025 Jim Bauer
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