Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked suggestions he branded US Vice-President JD Vance a ‘b****’ during their explosive White House row.
Viewers of the televised 45-minute dispute – with US President Donald Trump at the centre – believe he muttered the insult under his breath.
Mr Zelensky is said to have uttered ‘Suka, blyat’ in response to Mr Vance criticising him for an alleged lack of respect, during Friday evening’s confrontation.
The slang phrase, also spelled as ‘cyka’, is variously said to translate in English as ‘son of a b****’, ‘b**** f***’, ‘f***ing hell’ or ‘f*** you, b****’.
The Ukrainian president was seen crossing his arms in dismay as both Mr Trump and Mr Vance laid into him, before Mr Zelensky was sent on his way from the Washington DC summit sooner than scheduled.
The clash between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office was broadcast around the world on Friday, with the US President claiming his counterpart was ‘gambling with World War III’.
Mr Trump’s administration has made it clear privately it wants a public apology from Zelensky to mend relations, Bloomberg has now reported.
Media reports from the US suggested Trump considered cutting off all aid to Ukraine following their very public clash.
The Ukrainian leader was accused of not being grateful enough for US military aid by both the US president and his deputy Mr Vance.
Mr Zelensky was then warmly welcomed the following day at Downing Street by Sir Keir Starmer, with the Prime Minister assuring him of ongoing UK support.
The US President had been accused of acting like a bully at the White House when he told his Ukrainian counterpart to accept a deal with Russia ‘or we are out’.
Video footage of Mr Zelensky’s response to Mr Vance’s comments has gone viral online, with many suggesting he swore under his breath in disgust.
Zelenskyy called JD Vance a “B*tch” in Ukrainian (Cyka) pic.twitter.com/OOpzWkyoDb
— #jalalalkali (@jalalalkali_) February 28, 2025
Among those posting on X, formerly Twitter, was a much-shared user saying: ‘Zelenskyy called JD Vance a “B***” in Ukrainian.’
Replies included remarks such as ‘This is the least diplomatic exchange ever’, ‘I like him more and more’ and ‘Harsh but fair’.
Other viewers have speculated that Mr Zelensky was expressing general frustration rather than directing his words at Mr Vance, with one saying: ‘It’d be more of an observation than calling him anything.’
Another wrote: ‘If he said that, it can simply be swearing out of anger, which is understandable.’
Sir Keir had been a guest at the White House on Thursday, appearing to get on well with President Trump while handing over an invitation from King Charles for a state visit to the UK.
The PM is now among those leading attempts to build bridges between the US and Ukraine, heading pressure on Mr Zelensky to ‘patch things up’.
But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared the Ukrainian PM should ‘apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became’.
Mr Zelensky is today scheduled to be welcomed by the King in another UK show of support for Ukraine in defiance of the US position made clear by Mr Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance.
Sir Keir last night spoke with both Mr Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, after the PM insisted Ukraine had ‘full backing across the United Kingdom’ in a Number 10 meeting with Mr Zelensky.
Sir Keir also told the Ukrainian leader that Britain stood with his nation ‘for as long as it may take’ – and embraced him several times on camera.
Yet the PM also told Mr Zelensky he needed to ‘patch things up’ with the US president following their very public fall-out, according to the Telegraph.
The US government has privately suggested wanting a public apology from Mr Zelensky, Bloomberg reported European officials were saying.
VP Vance referred to Zelenski as Mr. President; he called the VP JD. That’s disrespect right there. Zelenski met with Senators before he got to the White House, who told him not to sign the deal. Right from the start of the WH meeting, he was having digs over the USA not doing enough to supply cash and arms. If anyone is relying on the PM of the UK, Starmer, they need their heads tested, but it seems he has Trump fooled.