In Europe and in the Oval Office, VP Vance takes on attack dog role for Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump gesturs next to U.S. Vice President JD Vance as he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was becoming contentious on Friday when Vice President JD Vance, sitting on a couch across from Trump in the Oval Office, weighed in with a zinger.

"With respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media," Vance told Zelenskiy, who had just challenged Trump's No. 2 to explain what he meant by advocating for diplomacy with Russia.