Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provokes a heated exchange with Vice President JD Vance at a press conference in the Oval Office prior to closed door negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy broke one of the cardinal rules of diplomacy today: Never introduce a surprise in a high-stakes meeting. This principle is sacrosanct among leaders, particularly when navigating complex international relationships. Yet, Zelenskyy employed a risky gambit, attempting to leverage media influence to strengthen his negotiating position with the nation that has already provided his country with $183 billion in aid.

At the outset of a press conference intended to pave the way for a formal agreement, Zelenskyy seized upon a reporter’s question to deliver an unexpected lecture to the United States on the history of the war. The spectacle was nothing short of negotiation by media. Vice President JD Vance — understandably taken aback by Zelenskyy’s approach — challenged the Ukrainian president’s remarks, prompting Zelenskyy to accuse him of raising his voice. From that moment, the dialogue devolved into diplomatic disarray. …