Vice President JD Vance addressed his controversial February outburst directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the latest episode of the podcast “Pod Force One,” claiming the relationship between Washington and Kyiv has improved significantly since the heated Oval Office confrontation. The remarks came during a broadcast on October 29, though Vance provided few details about the specific exchange that drew international attention earlier this year.
“That was six [eight] months ago,” Vance told the Post’s columnist, Miranda Devine. “We have turned over a new leaf.”
Vance said that the goal is to maintain productive relationships with both Ukraine and Russia to bring the conflict to an end, noting that the president, as well as himself, enjoys a strong working rapport with all parties involved.
While Vance declined to elaborate on what specifically transpired during the February incident, administration officials who spoke on background characterized the exchange as “tense” and “undiplomatic.” At the time, sources indicated Vance had questioned Ukraine’s use of American military aid and challenged Zelensky’s requests for additional support, leading to what one observer described as “the most uncomfortable moment in the Oval Office this year.”
Vance acknowledged that the February 28 encounter with Zelensky was likely the most well-known moment of his career, and perhaps the most notable one he would ever have.
Zelensky traveled to the White House for talks with Trump centered on a potential minerals agreement. The discussion began on a friendly note, but tensions flared after Vance told a reporter that Ukraine and Russia should pursue diplomatic efforts.
Speaking before a bank of television cameras, the Ukrainian president challenged the idea by questioning whether Vladimir Putin would genuinely engage in diplomacy.
From that moment, the meeting unraveled into a heated exchange in full view of the global press. At one stage, Vance chastised Zelensky for failing to express gratitude to the United States for its previous support.
The apparent thaw in relations comes as the Trump administration has quietly shifted its approach to the Ukraine conflict. Vance acknowledged on the podcast that his initial skepticism about continued Ukraine funding—a position he championed during his Senate tenure—has been tempered by classified intelligence briefings and direct conversations with European allies. “Sometimes you learn things in this job that change your perspective,” Vance said, though he emphasized the administration remains committed to seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
According to diplomatic sources, Vance has participated in at least three video conferences with Ukrainian officials since the February confrontation, working alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio to establish what one official called “a more productive working relationship.” The vice president’s evolution on Ukraine policy represents a notable departure from his previous America-first stance and has drawn praise from some Republican senators who had criticized his earlier hardline position.
