Watch: Ukraine envoy's facepalm gesture during Trump-Zelenskyy blowup at White House

Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, was at the White House when Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a fiery clash. (Screengrab/X)

The White House on Friday witnessed a diplomatic showdown between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance as they engaged in fiery exchanges over the war with Russia.

During the ugly spat that played out in front of diplomats and US and international media, the two US leaders shouted at Zelenskyy, accusing him of not being "thankful" to the US.

As the public blowup unfolded, Ukraine's ambassador to the US appeared tense among the diplomats seated near the leaders.

A video of Oksana Markarova's reaction has now gone viral on social media. In a small clip, the diplomat can be seen hiding her face behind her hands - a facepalm gesture - and shook her head in apparent disappointment.

The clip was also shared by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino on X. In the post, he mocked Zelenskyy and called him a "complete and total disaster".

Ukrainian Ambassador understands that Zelensky is a complete and total disaster pic.twitter.com/2a6u7gNqfI
Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 28, 2025

The Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was bound to be awkward given the former's unwavering support towards Russia. The meeting started on comparatively civil terms as they discussed plans for a mineral deal. However, it turned into a fiery argument within minutes after JD Vance stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the Russia - Ukraine war. This pushed the Ukrainian leader to explain how Russia has violated earlier deals.

Trump, on the other hand, in a loud and stern voice, told Zelenskyy, "You don't have the cards right now. You're either going to make a deal or we're out, and if we're out, you'll fight it out, and I don't think it's going to be pretty."

Shortly after, Zelenskyy walked out with Trump posting on social media that "he can come back when he is ready for peace".

The two sides did not even sign the mineral deal- the key purpose of Zelenskyy's visit to the White House.