Volodymyr Zelensky reveals how catastrophic mix-up triggered fiery White House exchange with Donald Trump

KYIV, UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently spoke about the catastrophic mix-up that triggered his clash with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February.

While speaking with his Ukrainian counterpart in the Oval Office last month regarding the country's war with Russia, Trump warned Zelensky, "You're gambling with millions of people ... You're gambling with World War Three." 

Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to give special gift to Donald Trump before White House meeting turned sour

During a candid interview with Time Magazine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he intended to present President Donald Trump with a special gift—champion boxer Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight world championship belt before their meeting turned into a verbal spat, the Irish Star reported.

Zelensky reportedly had the belt on a table next to his right elbow and was going to hand it to Trump, who is a fan of boxing and mixed martial arts, in front of the press, according to the Daily Mail.

However, he grabbed a folder of photographs instead and showed the brutality of what his people had been through during the war with Russia, per the outlet.

Notably, US officials told Time Magazine that the pictures turned the meeting into an argument and suggested that Trump felt the Ukrainian president was trying to shame or blame him for the injured people.

Meanwhile, Zelensky said that he wanted to make an emotional appeal to Trump.

He said, "He has family, loved ones, children. He has to feel the things that every person feels. What I wanted to show were my values. But then, well, the conversation went in another direction." 

He further admitted that he left the championship belt on the table where he'd placed it in the Oval Office. He added that as he left, he was unsure what had happened to it.

He said, "Maybe it's still sitting there." 

Meanwhile, a White House source told Time Magazine that a staffer picked up the belt and put it in Trump's private dining room with other gifts he has received.

JD Vance says his answer may have caused a blow-up with Volodymyr Zelensky

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that his remarks might have contributed to the diplomatic spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.

During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham earlier in March, the host asked Vance if the Zelensky clash was "planned," to which the vice president said, "No, it was certainly not planned." 

He continued, "What happened is the same reporter had asked two questions I thought were unfair... And, I just wanted to answer the question and, of course, something I said in my answer caused the blow-up, you know Zelensky got frustrated and everything went from there."

While referencing Trump, Vance added, "Obviously, he is the president, I'm the vice president. I try to be respectful but I also recognize that sometimes the president wants me to say stuff."

"If I think there is something useful I can say and I think it's going to be deferential to the president, I will jump in and offer my thoughts," the 40-year-old further stated.