She went viral.
During a tense interaction in the Oval Office on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump were caught in a heated exchange, while Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova appeared visibly distressed, resting her head in her hand.
The confrontation took place during a live White House press event when Trump questioned Zelenskyy about his reluctance to agree to a ceasefire with Russia. As microphones hovered above the two leaders, Markarova was seen lowering her head and closing her eyes in response to the tension.
Trump challenged Zelenskyy, saying, “You’re saying you don’t want a ceasefire. I want a ceasefire because you get a ceasefire faster than an agreement.” Zelenskyy responded, “I said to you … with guarantees. Ask our people about [a] ceasefire, [about] what they think.” Trump swiftly interrupted, stating, “That wasn’t with me.”
The meeting had been intended to discuss a potential agreement regarding Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and a peace deal with Russia, but the conversation took a contentious turn. When Zelenskyy raised questions about diplomacy, Vice President JD Vance criticized him for what he perceived as inappropriate behavior in front of the American press, calling it disrespectful. “Do you think that it’s respectful to come into the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked.
Tensions had been escalating before the meeting, according to sources close to Zelenskyy. He reportedly rejected a proposed mineral security agreement ahead of the meeting, citing the lack of security guarantees to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression. This decision reportedly angered both Trump and Vance, setting the stage for the argument. Shortly after the exchange, Zelenskyy was swiftly escorted out of the White House.
Later, Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming that Zelenskyy was not ready for peace if the U.S. was involved, as he believed American support gave him leverage in negotiations. Zelenskyy responded on X, thanking the U.S. and Trump for their support and reaffirming his commitment to achieving lasting peace for Ukraine.
Markarova had been Ukraine’s ambassador for roughly a year when the Russian invasion occurred, placing her in the spotlight. In September, House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly called for her removal after allegations surfaced that she had organized a taxpayer-funded tour of an American manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania for Zelenskyy, ahead of the 2024 election. Johnson accused Markarova of intentionally excluding Republicans from the event, calling it a politically motivated move that undermined trust in her diplomatic role.
