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International diplomacy is built on respect, pragmatism, and strategic alliances. But what unfolded in the White House on Friday was a striking departure—an unprecedented display of hostility, arrogance, and political theater that raises serious concerns about America's global leadership.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington under the pretense of negotiating a peace deal. Instead, they berated him and publicly pressured him to accept terms dictated not by Ukraine, but by Russia—its adversary in an ongoing war.
For the world to witness such a spectacle in the Oval Office was deeply unsettling. Whether one supports Ukraine or not, what transpired was beyond standard diplomatic practice. The so-called leader of the free world openly reinforced Vladimir Putin's narrative while treating an allied wartime leader with public derision.
The United States has maintained a consistent, largely bipartisan stance in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Trump and Vance, however, treated this support as transactional, suggesting that America's backing could be rewritten at will, dismissing years of carefully crafted international policy.
Trump also made it clear that he places more trust in Vladimir Putin than in the concerns of U.S. allies. His assertion that Zelensky's "hatred" toward Putin was an obstacle to peace ignores the reality of Russia's continued violations of international agreements. This stance further isolates the U.S. from European leaders who have repeatedly emphasized the dangers of appeasing Moscow.
Beyond its strategic implications, the meeting itself represented a degradation of diplomatic practice. While tough negotiations behind closed doors are expected, publicly humiliating a foreign leader in front of the press is a stark departure from traditional diplomacy. Even Republican hawks expressed discomfort, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) calling the meeting an "absolute, utter disaster," but then blamed Zelensky even though he was one of the most outspoken supporters of Zelensky.
Perhaps most troubling was the language Trump and Vance used, framing the war as though it were a business transaction. The assertions that "we are trying to do business" and that Ukraine had "no cards to play" suggest a disregard for the human toll of war. While pragmatism in foreign affairs is necessary, reducing the survival of a sovereign nation to a game of leverage risks trivializing the stakes at hand.
Throughout the meeting, Trump and Vance blurred the line between personal resentments and national policy. Trump brought up Zelensky's past meetings with previous U.S. administrations, making dismissive remarks about Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Vance criticized Zelensky's political outreach in Pennsylvania, framing it as a personal slight rather than a legitimate diplomatic effort.
These comments raise deeper concerns about how the current administration's foreign policy decisions are shaped. When personal grudges take precedence over strategic interests, they threaten to undermine America's credibility on the global stage.
Trump built his career on television, and this meeting felt like another orchestrated spectacle. It is clear that Trump knows a thing or two about media attention. The more shocking, the more outlandish, the more unprecedented—the more ratings tick up. But global leadership is not entertainment. U.S. credibility depends on stability, not viral moments.
While Trump and Vance engaged in theatrics, Ukraine's allies in Europe reaffirmed their commitment to Zelensky. Poland, Spain, and Lithuania quickly responded to bolster Ukraine's position. Germany's likely next chancellor stated bluntly: "We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war." The contrast between U.S. and European leadership in this moment was stark. The U.K., France, and Canada also came to Ukraine's defense.
The optics of the meeting aligned so well with Russian propaganda that the Kremlin barely needed to respond. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gloated on social media, calling Zelensky "an insolent pig" who was finally put in his place. The damage done to U.S. credibility is hard to ignore.
Perhaps the most telling moment in the White House meeting came when Brian Glenn, a right-wing media personality and Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend, mocked Zelensky's clothing. The Ukrainian president—who has led his country through a brutal war—responded with dignity: "I will wear [a suit] after this war finishes. Maybe something like yours, maybe something better."
This moment underscored the key difference between these men. Trump and Vance thrive on spectacle and mockery, while Zelensky continues to focus on survival and resilience.
This debacle was not just a bad moment in diplomatic history—it was a warning. When American leaders treat global affairs like a personal feud or a reality TV stunt, they damage alliances, embolden adversaries, and undermine national security. The United States, long considered the leader of the free world, now faces a credibility crisis.
Congress must reinforce bipartisan commitments to Ukraine and reassert America's commitment to democratic allies. European leaders, already recalibrating their defense strategies, will likely seek stronger partnerships outside of Washington's shifting stance. The Democrats should use this moment to offer a contrasting vision of diplomacy—one that prioritizes stability over chaos.
The world was watching. History will remember where each of these leaders stood. The question is—will we?
Faisal Kutty is a Toronto-based lawyer, law professor, and regular contributor to The Toronto Star.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
