JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during first encounter since Oval Office blow-up
Share this @internewscast.com

Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly met for the first time since their notable altercation in the Oval Office, exchanging a handshake.

The encounter happened briefly on Sunday during Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, where Vance and Zelensky exchanged smiles as they greeted one another. Joining Vance in meeting Zelensky was his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance.

In the seating arrangement, Zelensky was positioned close to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with Vance not far away. Vance was heading the US delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who shares his Catholic faith.

On Sunday, Ukraine was hit with one of the largest known drone attacks from Russia, including over 273 that pummeled the central Kyiv region as well as the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to Ukraine’s air force.

That brutal attack came days after the first direct negotiations between the Russians and Ukrainians since 2022, which led to a deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.

Those talks, in Turkey, failed to yield a broader ceasefire deal that had initially been sought.

The last time Vance and Zelensky crossed paths, it ended in bedlam.

On Feb. 28, during Zelensky’s visit to the White House to discuss a mineral rights deal and more, the two got into a war of words in front of the TV cameras after the Ukrainian leader tried to impress upon the VP how untrustworthy Russian strongman Vladimir Putin is.

Vance underscored the importance of negotiations, which prompted Zelensky to lecture the veep about Putin’s long history of breaking international agreements. He also asked how Ukraine could trust the outcome of any diplomacy with the Kremlin.

The vice president shot back that it was “disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media” and added, “You should be thanking the president for wanting to bring an end to the conflict.”

President Trump chimed in and backed up Vance.

During the 2024 campaign, Zelensky once called Vance “too radical” for championing a plan to end the war that would have seen Ukraine cede vast swaths of territory.

Since then, Ukraine has supported the Trump administration’s push for a ceasefire — something Russia has rejected, and worked towards achieving an end to the bloody war. Vance has publicly acknowledged that Moscow’s demands are too much.

“Right now, the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much,” Vance said at an event earlier this month organized by individuals who put together the annual Munich Security Conference.

Trump met Zelensky briefly last month at St. Peter’s Basilica while attending the late Pope Francis’ funeral.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
A's Jacob Lopez is an intriguing arm to monitor in fantasy baseball

Jacob Lopez of the A’s: A Captivating Pitcher to Watch in Fantasy Baseball

Rising talents like Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski capture attention by dominating…
Diver who freed sharks gets Trump pardon after felony conviction stuns him: 'My heart sank'

Diver Known for Releasing Sharks Shocked by Trump Pardon Following Felony Conviction: ‘I Couldn’t Believe It’

A diver from Florida believed he was doing the right thing by…
Chicago man Ashraf Al Safoo convicted in ISIS terror case, using social media to encourage attacks

Chicago Resident Ashraf Al Safoo Found Guilty in ISIS Terror Case for Promoting Attacks via Social Media

An Iraqi-born Chicago resident has been found guilty of utilizing ISIS social…
Birthright citizenship remains law of the land -- for now -- despite SCOTUS ruling

Birthright Citizenship Still Law of the Land Despite Recent SCOTUS Decision

Birthright citizenship continues to stand in the US—at least for the time…
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman's 'The Roses' co-stars praise working with "acting titans" on new film

Co-Stars Hail Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as “Acting Titans” in ‘The Roses’

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are revealing a different side of themselves…
A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades

A US Diocese Bucks Trends, Ordaining Largest Class of Catholic Priests in Decades

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — They are a day away from becoming Catholic…
Wreckage of a small plane after a fatal crash.

Former French Army General and Couple Perish in Tragic Plane Crash as Jet Strikes Residential Area Shortly After Takeoff

THREE people have died after a plane crashed into a French neighbourhood…
Antoine Massey captured by US Marshals, Groves remains on run

Antoine Massey Arrested by US Marshals, While Groves Still at Large

Massey’s capture ends a weeks-long manhunt; fugitive Derrick Groves is now the…
Stream It Or Skip It?

Should You Watch It or Pass on It?

If you can’t travel the globe, the Hallmark Channel’s Passport to Love…
Gurnee Woodland Elementary School teacher Todd Fowler charged with disseminating child pornography, Lake County Sheriff says

Officials Report: Lake County Sheriff’s Operation in Gurnee, Illinois Leads to 27 Arrests in Human Trafficking Crackdown

In Lake County, Illinois, a significant operation spearheaded by the Lake County…
Minnesota lawmakers shot: Former President Joe Biden pays respects as Melissa, Mark Hortman, dog lying in state; Boelter in court

Former President Joe Biden Honors Minnesota Lawmakers: Melissa and Mark Hortman, along with their dog, Lie in State; Boelter Appears in Court

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Former President Joe Biden joined a large crowd…
Iran holds funeral for top commanders, nuclear scientists killed in Israeli operation

Iran Stages Funeral for Key Military and Nuclear Figures Killed in Israeli Action

Iran held a funeral for top military commanders and nuclear scientists killed…