From the moment Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stepped out of his motorcade to greet US President Donald Trump at the door of the West Wing, the atmosphere was tense.
Mr Trump cracked something of a joke about Mr Zelensky's trademark combat fatigues. "You’re all dressed up," he said, but his visitor didn’t appear to react. Perhaps it was lost in translation.
With no friendly rapport established, the two leaders proceeded to the Oval Office where, before the world’s media, Mr Zelensky was subjected to a merciless mauling by two of the most powerful men in the world.
What was it that triggered the ferocious response?
It appeared to be the direct question posed by Mr Zelensky to Mr Vance who had been advocating for the use of diplomacy to end the war.
"What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?" he asked.
Perhaps it was his tone, his stony expression or even the familiar use of the Vice President’s first name. Perhaps it was his perceived temerity attempting to counter the American administration’s views - largely aligned with Russia’s - on the war.
The Vice President shot back, lambasting the Ukrainian leader for showing "disrespect", to "come to the Oval Office of the United States to try to litigate this in front of the American media," and told him he should be thanking the president.
'You don't have the cards'
Mr Trump stepped in. Angry and irritated, he shouted over the Ukrainian leader, wagging his finger and at one point even pushing his shoulder. It felt like fisticuffs could break out at any moment.
"You're not in a good position," Mr Trump snapped, "you don't have the cards right now.
"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people...you're gambling with World War III, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country - this country, that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should."
"Have you said 'thank you'?" Mr Vance chimed in.
It was a two-pronged rapid-fire attack, and Mr Zelensky couldn’t get a word in edgeways.
It couldn’t have stood in starker contrast to the two meetings in the same room earlier this week.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s fireside chat with Mr Trump - all smiles and warm words - felt like a love-in.
And British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the tradition of his 19th century predecessor Benjamin Disraeli, laid the flattery on with a trowel. And, in a shrewd manoeuvre, Mr Starmer reached inside his jacket pocket for a letter from King Charles III, inviting President Trump for a "historic" second state visit.
Mr Zelensky, the leader of a country in the grip of a bitter war, had no such baubles to present.
But, even if he had approached the meeting differently, perhaps choosing to flatter or grovel, he may not have ended up with a better result.
After all, Mr Trump and Mr Vance have made no secret of their disdain for the Ukrainian leader in the past.
It’s only a few days since Mr Trump called him "a dictator" and accused him of starting the war. The softening of his rhetoric on Thursday during his press conference with Keir Starmer was apparently an anomaly.
It was made quite clear yesterday: Mr Trump simply does not like Mr Zelensky.
So where does this leave the thing that Mr Zelensky travelled all the way to Washington to discuss - the critical mineral sharing deal that the US President says he wants?
Security guarantees
The Ukrainian leader intended to tell the Americans that he wouldn’t sign without security guarantees.
He didn’t get that far and was instead kicked out of the White House before any meeting could take place.
Writing on his own social media platform, Truth Social, Mr Trump said it was "amazing what comes out through emotion" - adding that he had concluded Mr Zelensky was "not ready for peace if America is involved".
"Because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want peace," he wrote, "he disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace."
Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, posted "thank you America, for your support and for this visit".
Europe rallied behind him - the leaders of Poland, Spain, and France, among others, tweeted messages of solidarity.
"Be strong, be brave, be fearless dear President Zelensky," wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
But the row was welcomed by Mr Trump’s supporters at home - and also in Moscow.
"The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office," wrote former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on social media.
After this bruising day, the meeting of European leaders hosted by Keir Starmer in London tomorrow is likely to feel like crisis talks.
And what does it mean for Taoiseach Micheál Martin, due to travel to the White House soon for St Patrick’s Day celebrations?
If there is one stark lesson to be gleaned from yesterday's events, it's that the charm-offensive diplomacy so carefully deployed by Mr Macron and Mr Starmer has barely made a dent in the widening transatlantic divide.
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