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By Natalie Venegas
Weekend Reporter
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Following Friday's tense White House meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying thank you to America 94 times over the last several years has gone viral on social media.
Newsweek has reached out to the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
What was expected to be a diplomatic discussion on U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and potential security assurances for Ukraine instead escalated into a confrontation, with Trump and Vance chastising Zelensky over what they perceived as his lack of gratitude for American support amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
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The unprecedented Oval Office spat has since drawn widespread attention, with some Trump supporters praising him, others expressing concern, and many international leaders and Democrats criticizing the president and voicing support for Zelensky.
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What To Know
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday by United24 Media, a Ukrainian news publication, Zelensky is seen thanking America 94 times since February 24, 2022, the day Russia invaded Ukraine.
United24 Media said it tracked only daily addresses, adding that "the real count is much higher."
X user Jay in Kyiv has reposted the video, garnering 6.4 million views and more than 100,000 likes.
According to the video, one of the most recent times Zelensky thanked America was February 12, when he said: "I am grateful to President Trump for his genuine interest in our shared opportunities in which we can bring true peace closer together."
The video of Zelensky comes as Trump has ordered a pause on all military aid to Ukraine on Monday.
A senior Defense Department official, who spoke anonymously about internal discussions, told Bloomberg that the aid freeze will remain in place until Trump determines that Ukrainian leaders are making a genuine effort toward peace.
A White House official confirmed the pause in aid in a statement: "President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution."
This comes as the U.S. has been a crucial ally for Ukraine since Russia's invasion. According to German-based think tank the Kiel Institute, the U.S. has spent just under $120 billion on Ukraine between early 2022 and December 2024. The Defense Department has put the total support for the war effort at nearly $183 billion, which includes military training in Europe and the replenishment of U.S. defense stockpiles.
Under the Biden administration, Zelensky was a close U.S. ally. Since taking office, however, Trump has called him a "dictator," falsely claimed Ukraine started the war, and without evidence said Zelensky has a 4 percent approval rating in Ukraine.
What Happened During White House Meeting?
The White House meeting was a striking exchange of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a space typically reserved for formal diplomacy, especially among U.S. allies.
Trump and Vance criticized Zelensky for what they saw as a lack of appreciation for U.S. aid, with Trump accusing him of "gambling with World War III." Vance also told Zelensky that diplomacy was the path to peace, to which the Ukrainian leader responded by pointing out Russia's repeated violations of agreements.
"He killed our people, and he didn't exchange prisoners," Zelensky said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? What do you mean?"
Vance, a vocal skeptic of continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, pushed back.
"I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country," he said, later telling Zelensky, "I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now."
At that point, tensions boiled over, with Trump raising his voice to the Ukrainian leader.
"You're gambling with World War III," he said. "And what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country—this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have."
Trump went on to say that Zelensky was not appreciative enough of U.S. military and financial aid, telling him, "You're not acting at all thankful, and that's not a nice thing."
Trump later said that Zelensky had "disrespected" the U.S. and declared on Truth Social that the Ukrainian leader "is not ready for Peace."
Trump has tried to make a deal with Zelensky to securing U.S. interests in Ukraine's valuable minerals and to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the war on his terms. The discussion of a path forward was cut short and Zelensky left the White House early. A press conference scheduled to take place after the meeting to announce a mineral deal was canceled.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump, on Truth Social on Friday: "We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It's amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on X on Friday: "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on X: "Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN's Dana Bash: "What President Trump was trying to do in the Oval Office when Zelensky acted so inappropriately, in my view, was to offer them an agreement that would be a win-win across the board. The mineral rights agreement is a fantastic solution to bring about an end to this conflict and I would have hoped that President Zelensky would have understood that and showed some gratitude."
What Happens Next
Bloomberg cited a senior defense official as saying that all U.S. military equipment not currently in Ukraine will be paused, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland.
The impact of the aid stoppage will emerge in the coming days and weeks, although progress on any ceasefire talks could take much longer.
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