Zelensky says he hopes JD Vance not at Trump meeting as he's warned to wear a suit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing for a tense return to Washington, where he’s set to meet with Donald Trump on Monday. According to an anonymous source cited by Newsweek, Zelensky privately hopes that Vice President JD Vance does not attend the meeting.

The hesitation stems from a volatile encounter back in February. That meeting ended in chaos when Trump and Vance reportedly berated Zelensky in the Oval Office. Trump mocked his clothing and accused him of ingratitude, while Vance lectured him for not being deferential enough. The confrontation ended the talks early, leaving no deal on U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s mineral industry—one of the main reasons for the visit.

The same source claims Vance was “provoking” Zelensky during the earlier talks, and that avoiding a repeat performance might make Monday’s meeting more productive. This time, European allies including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen are also expected to join Zelensky in Washington. Their presence could make it harder for Trump or Vance to strong-arm him.

Observers described February’s clash as one of the most combative Oval Office moments in recent memory. The Guardian’s David Smith noted that Vance, who once said he didn’t care what happened in Ukraine, jabbed his finger at Zelensky and accused him of being disrespectful. When Zelensky voiced doubts about trusting Vladimir Putin, Vance shot back by asking whether he had ever properly “thanked” Trump. Trump then cut Zelensky off entirely: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.”

The new round of meetings follows Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin, where the U.S. president appeared to shift away from his earlier push for a ceasefire toward talk of a broader peace deal—something that aligns closely with Moscow’s stance. Zelensky, however, has been firm: Ukraine will not cede territory, limit its military, or give up its NATO ambitions.

Whether Monday’s talks produce progress or more confrontation remains to be seen.