'Thank you POTUS, US for your support': Zelenskyy's swipe after White House blow up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday took a swipe at President Donald Trump after their heated Oval Office exchange and the collapse of a critical minerals deal.

“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,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.

Zelenskyy's tweet follows a bust-up in the Oval Office, where Vance turned to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and asked, "Have you said thank you once?" The question came amid a heated discussion about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the support provided by the United States.
Vance argued, "I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media." He added that Zelenskyy should be thanking President Biden for his efforts to bring an end to the conflict and for the military support the US had provided. "You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict," Vance said.
Zelenskyy, responding to Vance, defended Ukraine’s position, saying, "Have you ever been to Ukraine? You say what problems we have." He acknowledged that Ukraine has problems but maintained that the country has been alone in its fight. "We are staying in our country, staying strong, from the very beginning of the war, we've been alone, and we are thankful."
Trump also weighed in, asserting that Ukraine "would have been over in two weeks" if not for the military aid provided by the US. "If you didn't have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks," Trump said.
Vance went on to bluntly ask, "Just say thank you," to which Zelenskyy repeated, "I said it a lot of times thank you to the American people."

"Of course," Zelenskyy responded when questioned by Fox News about the possibility of mending relations with Trump.
He emphasised that the connection between the United States and Ukraine extends beyond their respective presidents, whilst highlighting Ukraine's critical need for American assistance in confronting Russia's superior military forces.
"It will be difficult without your support," Zelenskyy stated during his appearance on Fox.
Trump had accused Zelenskyy of "disrespecting America" in a Truth Social post minutes after their tense Oval Office meeting blow up.
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A planned joint press conference at 1 pm, following a framework mineral agreement signing, was cancelled after a heated exchange between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. White House officials, media representatives and Ukrainian delegates witnessed the altercation.
Also read: Zelenskyy leaves White House after Trump cuts short talks after Oval Office blow up
The White House press pool subsequently confirmed the cancellation of the scheduled press conference. Zelenskyy departed the West Wing after spending two hours and 20 minutes inside.
Initially, the Oval Office meeting began positively with cordial exchanges, including Trump's comment about Zelenskyy: "I think he's a great guy."
The situation deteriorated when Zelenskyy attempted to discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin's diplomatic stance with Vance before journalists and cameras. The vice president criticised Zelenskyy for engaging in photo opportunities with Democrats during the 2024 campaign and deemed his comments disrespectful to the administration.
Trump, speaking forcefully, called the Ukrainian president disrespectful and insisted he should express gratitude to the US, stating, "You don't have the cards."
He further declared, "You are either going to make a deal or we're out and if we are out, you will fight it out. I don't think it's going to be pretty."
The meeting was intended to finalise an agreement establishing a joint US-Ukraine investment fund for rare-earth mineral extraction in Ukraine.