Vance stated that the clash with Zelensky was not planned and explained that he had asked Trump if he could respond to a question posed by a reporter that he believed was unfair.
“Sometimes if you notice, he'll call on me at these press conferences, so you've got to be on your feet always with President Trump in the room,” Vance said. “But I just wanted to answer the question. And then of course something I said in my answer caused the blow up, you know, Zelensky got frustrated with it and everything went from there.”
Vance emphasized his deference to Trump, saying, “Obviously he’s the president, I’m the vice president. I try to be respectful, but I also recognize that sometimes the president wants me to say stuff and of course if the president, if I think there's something useful I can say and I think that it's going to be deferential to the president, I'll jump in and offer my thoughts.”
The confrontation occurred last month in the Oval Office when Vance pressed Zelensky for what he described as a lack of gratitude toward the United States and President Trump.
"With respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems,” Vance said at the time. Vance said at the time.
“In this entire meeting, have you said thank you? You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the President who’s trying to save your country,” Vance added.
Following the Oval Office exchange, Trump criticized Zelensky, accusing him of not being prepared for serious peace talks. Vance later reiterated in an interview that the “door is open” for Zelensky if he is ready to engage in meaningful peace negotiations.
