Ex-Trump security adviser Coates: Resuming peace talks with Ukraine possible if Zelensky changes

Former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates says further negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine are still possible – following the tense meeting Friday at the White House – if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky changes his diplomatic approach. 

Coates made the comment on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show on Friday, hours after a tense Oval Office exchange between Trump and Zelensky on ending Russia's three-year war with Ukraine and Trump's negotiating with Russia President Vladimir Putin. 

She told show hosts John Solomon and Amanda Head that the differences expressed in the meeting between could have been discussed "behind closed doors."  

She also said there is potential that Zelensky could restore the potential for further negotiations if he approaches the situation differently than he did during the meeting. 

"You know, the president and the vice president [JD Vance] were perfectly cordial with President Zelensky for a long period of time before the dust up at the end, which to my listen, was was initiated by Zelensky," Coates said. 

"He was the one who became pretty obstreperous. I might have led with thank you, rather than wait until the interview with Brett there to make that so clear. I do think that it is possible to get this back on an even keel, if that's what Zelensky wants."

The tense exchanges among the world leaders seemed to have been ignited when Vance suggested Zelensky should have been more publicly thankful to Americans for the financial support thus far.

Coates said that Trump's position on Ukraine reflect concerns over the Biden administration's handling of relations with the country, particularly the U.S. continuing to fund Ukraine's defense with no end to the war in sight.

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022 the U.S. has given $65.9 billion in defense funding to Ukraine.  

"President Trump takes very seriously the dispersal of American taxpayer dollars," Coates said. "He's been concerned for a long time about the way the Biden administration had been writing a blank check on Ukraine with no oversight.  And he's wanted to end this war. He's wanted to end the killing. And so I think it should come as no surprise that what he was looking for out of President Zelensky today was gratitude."