Journalist: I speak with my friends in Poland, and they are concerned that you are too lenient (you align yourself too much with Putin) towards [illegitimate President of the Russian Federation Vladimir] Putin. What would you say to them?
Trump: Well, if I weren't favorable to both of them, you would never have had an agreement. You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, "Hello, Vladimir, how's our agreement going?" It doesn't work that way. I'm not taking sides with Putin. I'm not siding with anyone. I support the USA and for the good of the world, I support the whole world, and I want to end this. You see the hatred he [Zelensky] has for Putin. It’s very difficult for me to reach an agreement with such hatred. He feels tremendous hatred, and I understand that, but I can tell you that the other side is not very fond of him either. So it’s not a question of favoritism. I am favorable to peace. I want to see a resolution. I am favorable to Europe. I want to see if we can do this. Do you want me to be tough? I can be tougher than anyone you've ever seen, I would be that tough, but you will never reach an agreement that way. So things are going as they are.
J.D. Vance: I will respond to that. So, look, for four years there was a president in the USA who spoke at press conferences and harshly criticized Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant part of the country. The path to peace and prosperity may involve engaging in diplomacy. We tried Joe Biden's approach, beating our chests and pretending that the words of the President of the United States matter more than the actions of the President of the United States. What makes America a great country is its engagement in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump does.
Zelensky: Can I ask you something?
J.D. Vance: Of course.
Zelensky: Okay. So, he occupied parts, large parts of Ukraine, parts of the east and Crimea. He occupied them in 2014. For many years, I’m only talking about Biden, but then there was President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now again President Trump, and God willing, now President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, no one stopped him. He just occupied and took, killing people...
Trump: 2015.
Zelensky: 2014.
J.D. Vance: 2014.
Trump: 2014 – I was not here.
Zelensky: Yes, but from 2014 to 2022, the situation was the same. People were dying on the frontline. No one stopped him. You know, we had conversations with him, many conversations, bilateral talks, and as the new president in 2019, I signed an agreement with him. I signed with him, [French President Emmanuel] Macron, and [then German Chancellor Angela] Merkel a ceasefire agreement. They all told me that he would never leave, we signed a gas contract with him, but after that, he violated the ceasefire. He was killing our people and not exchanging prisoners. We signed [an agreement that included] prisoner exchanges, and he didn’t do that. What diplomacy are you talking about, J.D.? What do you mean?
J.D. Vance: I'm talking about diplomacy that will put an end to the destruction of your country.
Zelensky (interrupts): Yes, but if you don’t stop...
J.D. Vance (interrupts): Mr. President, Mr. President, with all due respect, I think it is disrespectful on your part to come into the Oval Office and debate this in front of the American media. Right now, you are going around and forcing conscripts to go to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to end this conflict...
Zelensky (interrupts): Has any of you been to Ukraine, that you are telling us what our problems are? Just once?
J.D. Vance (interrupts): Actually, I have watched and seen stories, and I know what happens when you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Don't you agree that you have problems mobilizing people into your army?
Zelensky (interrupts): We have problems...
J.D. Vance (interrupts): And do you think that’s a sign of disrespect?...
Zelensky (interrupts): I will answer...
J.D. Vance (interrupts): …to come into the Oval Office of the USA and "attack" an administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?
Zelensky: There are a lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning.
J.D. Vance: Sure.
Zelensky: First of all, during the war, everyone has problems, even you, but you have a wonderful ocean, and you don’t feel it right now, but you will feel it in the future.
Trump (interrupts): You don’t know that.
Zelensky (interrupts): God willing, you won’t have a war.
Trump (interrupts): Don’t tell us what we will feel. We are trying to solve the problem. Don’t tell us what we feel.
Zelensky (interrupts): I’m not telling you, I’m answering the questions...
Trump (interrupts): You are not in a position to dictate that. Remember that.
Zelensky (interrupts): I’m not dictating...
Trump (interrupts): You are not in a position to tell us what we will feel. We will feel very good and very strong.
Zelensky (interrupts): You will feel the impact...
Trump (interrupts): …and very strong. You are not in a very good position right now.
Zelensky (interrupts): From the very beginning...
Trump (interrupts): You put yourself in a very bad position, and he [J.D. Vance] is right about that.
Zelensky (interrupts): From the very beginning of the war...
Trump (interrupts): You are not in a good position; you don’t have cards in your hands right now. With us, you have cards.
Zelensky (interrupts): We are not playing cards.
Trump (interrupts): No, you are playing cards. You are playing with the lives of millions of people; you are playing with a third world war.
Zelensky (interrupts): What are you talking about?
Trump (interrupts): You are playing with a third world war. And what you are doing is disrespectful to this country.
Zelensky (interrupts): With all due respect to your country...
Trump (interrupts): They [the USA] have supported you much more than many said they would have.
J.D. Vance (interrupts): Have you ever said "thank you"?
Zelensky: Many times.
J.D. Vance (interrupts): No, throughout this meeting?
Zelensky: Even today.
J.D. Vance (interrupts): You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned against the opposition in October. Say a few words of gratitude to the United States and the president who is trying to save your country.