Marco Rubio Slams Zelensky, Calls Him ‘Ungrateful’—Says He Should Apologize to Trump and Stop Wasting U.S. Money
Senator Marco Rubio has openly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting he should apologize to Donald Trump following their disastrous Oval Office meeting. Rubio also cast doubt on whether Zelensky truly wants peace, hinting that the Ukrainian leader is more focused on securing U.S. cash with no strings attached than negotiating an end to the war.
The tense war of words erupted on Friday, spiraling out of control when Trump took offense to how Zelensky treated Vice President JD Vance in front of the cameras. The heated exchange shocked viewers and sent ripples through the political world.
Rubio Defends Trump, Says Zelensky Owes an Apology
Attempting to shift the blame away from Trump and Vance—whose aggressive stance on Ukraine has already raised alarms among U.S. allies—Rubio doubled down on criticizing Zelensky’s behavior.
“You guys only saw the end, but you don’t see all the things that led up to this,” Rubio argued.
“President Trump has been clear—he believes this war should never have started, and had he been in charge, it wouldn’t have. Now, he’s trying to end it. We’ve laid out a plan to bring Russia to the negotiating table, yet Zelensky is acting like diplomacy won’t work.”
Rubio claimed that Zelensky’s actions over the past ten days made Friday’s outcome inevitable. According to him, the meeting wasn’t even necessary—Ukraine was simply there to sign a minerals deal that would benefit U.S. business interests.
“Zelensky turned this into the fiasco that it became. He came here to lecture us instead of engaging in real diplomacy. That’s why it ended the way it did.”
Rubio Suggests Zelensky Doesn’t Want Peace
Rubio then made an even more controversial claim: Zelensky isn’t interested in ending the war at all.
“Maybe he doesn’t want a peace deal. This open act of undermining diplomacy is frustrating for everyone involved. He should apologize for wasting our time.”
He went on to blame the Biden administration for fueling a pointless stalemate, arguing that Trump’s approach is about bringing “enduring, lasting peace.”
Trump’s Oval Office Blow-Up—A ‘Great TV Moment’
Inside sources claim that Trump initially greeted Zelensky politely, though his first hot-mic remark was a snide comment about Zelensky’s informal clothing—a signature choice since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
A White House official later criticized Zelensky’s behavior, stating, “He should not have tangled with the VP inside the Oval Office. That was a mistake.”
The official revealed that Trump, 78, and Vance, 40, were looking for gratitude from Ukraine—but instead, Zelensky’s tone was seen as dismissive. That’s when Trump snapped.
“This is going to be great television,” Trump reportedly said after the chaotic confrontation played out on live TV.
Vance vs. Zelensky: The Showdown
Vance, known for his skepticism toward U.S. aid to Ukraine, clashed directly with Zelensky, accusing Ukraine of being ungrateful for the billions of dollars the U.S. has poured into the war effort.
“Just say thank you,” Vance scolded him.
“I have said it many times,” Zelensky replied.
At one point, Zelensky confronted Vance, asking:
“Have you ever been to Ukraine? Do you understand the problems we face?”
Vance fired back:
*“I’ve seen the reports. But let’s be honest—when people visit Ukraine
Vance fired back:
“I’ve seen the reports. But let’s be honest—when people visit Ukraine, you take them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President.”
That remark set off Zelensky, who accused Vance of not understanding the reality of the war. The clash escalated when Trump jumped in to defend his VP, telling Zelensky:
“You’re in a bad position. You don’t have the cards right now.”
Zelensky shot back, “I’m not playing cards.”
Zelensky Refuses to Apologize, Calls for Trump’s Support
Despite repeated pressure from Trump’s camp, Zelensky refused to apologize for his remarks. In an interview with Fox News, he was asked point-blank if he owed Trump an apology. Twice, he dodged the question before finally responding:
“I’m not sure we did something bad.”
He then pivoted, thanking America for its past support but urging Trump to be ‘more on Ukraine’s side’ rather than negotiating with Russia.
“Trump says he’ll stop the war—I hope he will. But we need him to pressure Putin, not us. We need him to be on our side, not in the middle.”
Rubio: ‘Zelensky Is Playing Games’
Rubio wasn’t buying it. He pointed to a pattern of behavior—including past clashes between Zelensky and President Biden—to argue that the Ukrainian leader is playing political games rather than working toward peace.
“We’ve seen this before. Even Biden lost his temper with Zelensky in 2022. The hypocrisy here is unbelievable.”
According to Rubio, Trump’s hardline stance isn’t about abandoning Ukraine but about forcing Zelensky to negotiate—something he believes the Ukrainian leader has resisted from the start.
The Fallout—And What Comes Next
As tensions simmer, the relationship between Trump and Zelensky appears to be at a breaking point. Some sources suggest that Trump is done entertaining Ukraine’s demands unless Zelensky changes his approach.
Even so, Zelensky remains defiant.
“We want peace, but it has to be on our terms. We will negotiate, but we need strength at the table,” he insisted.
With Trump eyeing a return to the White House, his approach to Ukraine could reshape the entire geopolitical landscape—and Zelensky may not like what comes next.
