Top Russian official and former president Dmitry Medvedev celebrated what he called President Trump’s “proper slap down” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.
“The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office,” Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Moscow’s security council and former prime minister of Russia, said in a post on X.
“[Trump] is right: The Kiev regime is ‘gambling with WWIII,’” the Russian leader added.
The post comes after an explosive meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday during which Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader while Vice President Vance called the foreign leader “disrespectful.”
Tensions boiled over after Zelensky responded to Vance’s suggestion that a diplomatic solution be reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the three-year-old war. Zelensky pointed to Putin violently invading Ukrainian territory, renegging on ceasefires and refusing to participate in prisoner exchanges.
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to his conflict,” Vance said.
Zelensky then said the U.S. has not yet felt the impact of the war because of its physical distance from the conflict.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel because you’re in no position … to dictate what we’re going to feel,” Trump replied, raising his voice. “We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now, not in a very good position.”
The White House meeting was originally supposed to focus on an agreement for the U.S. to access critical minerals in Ukraine. Trump said the deal would help Ukraine’s economy, while helping the U.S. recoup money it has provided to Ukraine in fighting Russian forces.
Trump took to Truth Social after the meeting, saying Zelensky was not ready for peace and implied talks between he and his Ukrainian counterpart had been cut off. Zelensky was seen leaving the White House shortly after.
