Months after Russia and Ukraine went to war, then-President Joe Biden had a heated private phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Biden allegedly lost “his temper” and urged Ukraine to “show a little more gratitude” to the United States for its support, according to a resurfaced 2022 NBC News report.
“Biden had barely finished telling Zelenskyy that he had just greenlighted another $1 billion in U.S. military assistance for Ukraine when Zelenskyy started listing all the additional help he needed and was not getting,” according to an NBC report published in November 2022, recounting a prior June 2022 call between Biden and Zelensky.
“Biden lost his temper,” according to those familiar with the call. The American people were being very generous, and his administration and the US military were working hard to assist Ukraine, he said, raising his voice, and Zelenskyy could be more grateful,” the report continued.
The reported tense phone exchange occurred just months after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Biden administration officials told NBC that the pair’s relationship “only improved” after the phone call.
Fox News Digital contacted Biden’s office on Sunday morning for more information on the 2022 phone call, but did not receive an immediate response.
The report resurfaced over the weekend, following President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s tense meeting with Zelenskyy, during which the VP pressed the Ukrainian leader on his gratitude for the US’s assistance over the years and Trump asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House, stating that he could return “when he is ready for peace.”
The White House meeting became tense in the final 10 minutes, after Vance stated that peace between Russia and Ukraine would be achieved through US diplomacy efforts.
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it is disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance reported to Zelenskyy. “You are currently forcing conscripts to the front lines because you are short on manpower. You should thank the president for bringing it into the country.
“Have you have ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?” Zelenskyy shot back.
“I have actually watched and seen the stories and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour,” says Vance. “Do you disagree, Mr. President, that you have had difficulty recruiting people into your military? And do you think it is appropriate to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is attempting to prevent the destruction of your country?”
Zelenskyy went on to say that during a war, “everybody has problems, even you,” and that the United States would feel the effects “in the future.”
“Do not tell us what we are going to feel,” Trump responded to Zelenskyy.
“You are gambling with the lives of millions of people,” Trump said at another point in the conversation. “You are gambling on World War III. You are gambling on World War III. And what you are doing is extremely disrespectful to this country.
Vance interjected, asking Zelenskyy if he had “said thank you once this entire meeting.” He also mentioned that Zelenskyy “went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October” and that he should “offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Congress has appropriated $175 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022, though exact monetary figures on how much the US has provided vary depending on what is considered aid.
According to the Kiel Institute, total European assistance to Ukraine from January 2022 to December 2024 will be approximately $138.7 billion. Fox Digital previously reported that the United States contributed $119.7 billion during the same time period.
Trump went on to tell Zelenskyy, “The problem is, I have empowered you to be a tough guy, and I do not think you would be a tough guy without the United States.”