US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to apologize following a contentious meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office. Rubio accused Zelenskyy of turning the diplomatic engagement into a “fiasco” and being unnecessarily antagonistic.
The tense exchange, witnessed by White House officials, media personnel, and Ukrainian delegates, escalated during discussions on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Speaking to CNN, Rubio stressed that Trump’s goal is to end the war and bring Russia to the negotiating table.
“There was no need for Zelenskyy to become confrontational,” Rubio said. “President Trump campaigned on ending this conflict, and he’s been consistent about getting Russia to negotiate for peace. Unfortunately, President Zelenskyy’s approach jeopardized those efforts.”
Rubio also pointed out that the disagreement could have been avoided, noting that an agreement between the US and Ukraine on economic cooperation had already been prepared and could have been signed days earlier. However, Zelenskyy’s insistence on visiting Washington and his critical public statements led to complications.
The confrontation reportedly escalated when Zelenskyy questioned Vice President Vance’s understanding of diplomacy. This line of questioning, Rubio said, derailed the meeting and created unnecessary tension.
“Thousands of lives have been lost,” Rubio stated. “We need to focus on ending this war through negotiation. Zelenskyy’s approach undermined those efforts and sent the wrong message about Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace.”
The meeting, which began with warm gestures and praise, quickly soured when Zelenskyy criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s lack of diplomacy. Trump and Vance interpreted these remarks as disrespectful to their administration’s efforts.
During the heated exchange, Trump accused Zelenskyy of failing to show gratitude for US support, saying, “You don’t have the cards. You either make a deal, or we’re out—and if we’re out, it’s not going to be pretty.”
The meeting was initially intended to finalize a joint US-Ukraine deal on rare-earth mineral investments, essential for technology manufacturing. However, the diplomatic fallout overshadowed the economic negotiations.
As the situation unfolds, tensions between the US and Ukrainian leadership could complicate future diplomatic and economic relations, making the path to peace even more challenging.
