A tense Oval Workplace alternate between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reignited an outdated however telling revelation—Trump isn’t the primary US commander-in-chief to develop pissed off with the wartime chief. A resurfaced NBC Information report from 2022 particulars a fiery cellphone name between then-President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy, during which Biden allegedly misplaced his mood, demanding that Ukraine “present a bit of extra gratitude.”
The June 2022 name, made simply months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, reportedly turned bitter after Biden knowledgeable Zelenskyy of one other $1 billion in US navy assist. As an alternative of expressing thanks, Zelenskyy instantly started itemizing extra requests—prompting Biden to lift his voice.
“The American folks have been being fairly beneficiant,” Biden reportedly snapped. “Zelenskyy may present a bit of extra gratitude.”
The report, revealed in November 2022, underscores a recurring theme in US-Ukraine relations: the rising impatience of American leaders who, regardless of pouring billions into Ukraine’s struggle effort, have discovered Zelenskyy’s strategy more and more grating.
Historical past repeats itself within the Trump period
Quick-forward to 2025, and Trump’s dealing with of Zelenskyy’s newest White Home go to seems to be historical past repeating itself—solely this time, the confrontation occurred in individual. In a dramatic assembly that ended with Zelenskyy being requested to go away, Trump and Vice President JD Vance took turns urgent the Ukrainian chief on his angle towards US help.
“Have you ever mentioned thanks as soon as this complete assembly?” Vance challenged Zelenskyy, calling out his previous go to to Pennsylvania to marketing campaign for Trump’s political opponents.
Tensions escalated additional when Trump accused Zelenskyy of “playing with World Battle III” and warned that Ukraine should “make a deal” or danger shedding US assist. The confrontation ended with a visibly pissed off Trump canceling a scheduled press convention with Zelenskyy and scrapping a separate DC, talking engagement for the Ukrainian president.
The gratitude query
Zelenskyy, dealing with mounting strain to acknowledge US assist extra explicitly, later addressed the controversy in an interview with Fox Information’ Bret Baier. Whereas he expressed appreciation for American assist, he stopped in need of providing an apology.
“No, I respect the president and I respect the American folks,” Zelenskyy acknowledged when pressed on whether or not he owed Trump an apology.
In the meantime, European leaders, sensing a shift in US assist, have begun stepping up their very own diplomatic efforts. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to debate a brand new peace initiative, with France and the UK now taking the lead in brokering a deal.
Similar sample, completely different president
As Zelenskyy navigates yet one more strained relationship with a US president, one factor is obvious: whether or not it’s Biden or Trump, the world’s strongest leaders are rising weary of what they see as Ukraine’s countless calls for. And with Trump now in workplace, the results of that frustration could possibly be much more quick—and extreme.
