I respect the president and I respect the American people,” the Ukrainian leader said in the interview, without admitting fault.

Uneasiness grows over continued U.S. support for the 75-year-old alliance as Trump casts doubt on support from other members if attacked.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on March 1 for President Volodymyr Zelensky to mend relations with U.S. President Donald Trump following a tense exchange in White House a day prior. Zelensky left Washington early without signing a mineral deal with the United States following a tense argument in front of journalists between the two

During a conversation in front of cameras, relations broke down as Trump and Zelensky started arguing in front of reporters, leading to Vance jumping in and scolding Zelensky, accusing him of campaigning with Democrats in 2024 and not being "thankful" for U.S. support to fight off the Russian invasion.

White House officials were expecting a positive meeting and said they had little reason to anticipate animosity before things deteriorated.

European leaders are making a point of warmly welcoming the Ukrainian leader to London just days after his dust-up with President Trump and Vice

Europe is staring down the barrel of a stark new reality where the United States being the backbone of NATO – the alliance that has guaranteed the continent’s security since 1949 for almost 80 years – is no longer a given.