Vice President JD Vance just dropped a bombshell on “Pod Force One,” revealing a dramatic shift in tone after a fiery Oval Office showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to The New York Post.
The story unfolds from a tense confrontation earlier this year to recent efforts by Vance and President Donald Trump to recalibrate relationships with both Ukraine and Russia amid a brutal, ongoing conflict.
Let’s rewind to that infamous meeting at the White House, where Zelensky was invited to discuss a minerals deal with Trump. Things took a sharp turn when Vance suggested to a reporter that Ukraine and Russia must pursue diplomatic solutions.
Zelensky didn’t hold back, openly challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to negotiate—right in front of rolling TV cameras.
What followed was a full-blown shouting match, with Vance criticizing Zelensky for failing to show appreciation for past American support, while Trump backed Vance, warning Kyiv of overplaying its hand and risking global catastrophe.
Vance, during his Senate tenure, was a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, a stance that undoubtedly added fuel to the Oval Office clash.
Zelensky, for his part, had previously labeled Vance as overly extreme, setting the stage for a showdown that felt personal as much as political.
Yet, Vance now claims the public airing of grievances might have been a strange kind of catharsis, a moment that forced both sides to confront their differences head-on.
“That was six [eight] months ago. We have turned over a new leaf,” Vance told Post columnist Miranda Devine, suggesting a willingness to move past the drama.
But let’s not get too sentimental—turning over a new leaf doesn’t erase the deep policy divides or the stakes of a war that’s bled Europe dry. Is this a genuine olive branch or just diplomatic theater?
Vance also reflected, “We’re trying to have productive relationships with both the Ukrainians and the Russians, because we want to end this conflict,” indicating a broader strategy shift under Trump’s leadership.
Trump himself has been adjusting his approach in recent months, at one point dismissing Russia as a hollow threat while hinting Ukraine could reclaim lost ground.
However, after a call with Putin and a subsequent meeting with Zelensky, Trump’s optimism seemed to wane, and he’s yet to greenlight Zelensky’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles to strike Russian territory.
Vance, meanwhile, remains cautious, refusing to predict the outcome of Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, admitting the situation’s complexity and the diminishing returns for both sides in this grinding war.