Senator Lisa Murkowski has voiced strong criticism of the heated exchange that took place in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Alaska senator said the confrontation made her “sick to my stomach.”
The tense meeting, which was broadcasted to the world, sparked reactions from across the political spectrum. While Trump and Vance remained measured at the start, tensions escalated when Zelensky made remarks that ignited a heated debate.
Posting on X, Murkowski accused the Trump administration of siding with Russia over Ukraine, expressing deep concern over what she perceives as a shift in U.S. foreign policy.
If you watch the full Trump-Zelensky press conference, it is very clear that Zelensky, not Trump or Vance, became the antagonist. Both POTUS and VP were very respectful and cordial until Zelensky very publicly ignited a firestorm.
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) February 28, 2025
It all starts at 40:30
1) Zelensky essentially… pic.twitter.com/xrM4cWSPny
“This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine,” she wrote. “It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine.”
She went on to say, “I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world.”
Murkowski’s remarks come amid growing division within the Republican Party over continued U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Alongside fellow senators Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins, she has been a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign policy approach and recently opposed several of his cabinet nominees.
This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine. I know foreign…
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) March 1, 2025
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that the U.S. will not be providing additional financial or military aid to Ukraine unless Zelensky is willing to discuss a peace deal.
“President Trump wants peace. He remains committed to that,” White House press spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in an interview with Laura Ingraham.
“We are no longer going to just write blank checks to a war very far away without real lasting peace,” she continued. “That’s what the President wants.”
The administration’s stance signals a major shift in U.S. policy, reflecting Trump’s long-standing position that American support for Ukraine should be conditional on progress toward a negotiated settlement. The fallout from the Oval Office confrontation continues to stir debate, with some viewing it as a necessary step toward ending the conflict, while others fear it could embolden Russia.