“Suka, blyat”? Did Zelensky insult the US VP in the Oval?

President Donald Trump, center right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov)

Did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mutter an insult toward US Vice President JD Vance during their tense Oval Office meeting on Friday with President Donald Trump?

According to several US media reports, Zelensky was seen murmuring something as Vance stated that instead of visiting Ukraine, he had “heard stories” and “seen videos.”

In TV footage, Zelensky appears with his arms defiantly crossed, his lips moving as if he were saying something.

Speculation Over Possible Expletive

Wild speculation quickly erupted. Some claimed that Zelensky might have murmured “Suka, blyat,” a Russian phrase with multiple translations—none of them polite. Possible meanings range from “son of a b…” and “damn b…” to “f… hell” or “get lost, b….”

However, there is no concrete proof of what he actually said.

Trump Allies Demand Apology—or More

Despite the lack of clear evidence, the incident has become political ammunition for Zelensky’s critics in the US. More and more allies of former President Donald Trump are demanding a public apology for the Oval Office fiasco on Friday. Some are even pushing for stronger action—House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly floated the idea of a resignation. Will the White House respond?

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.