In an Oval Office meeting, Vance and Trump accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful." Afterward, Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials were told to leave.

In the film "The Maltese Falcon," Sydney Greenstreet's villainous character Kaspar Gutman says to Humphrey Bogart's anti-hero, "Here's to plain speaking and clear understanding." This is the foundation for all meaningful and productive discussions.