As vice-president for four years, Kamala Harris had a negligible impact on US affairs, not to mention the global conflicts that erupted during the Biden administration.

Her successor in the White House, JD Vance, could reasonably claim, on the other hand, to have provoked some of the largest shifts in US foreign policy in just over a month in office.

It was Mr Vance who, over just 90 seconds, turned a testy exchange with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office into a full-blown shouting match with Donald Trump.

Mr Zelensky’s tone was taut, but calm, as he reminded Mr Vance that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly violated diplomatic “deals” with Ukraine.

The vice-president cranked up the aggression with a series of complaints – delivered in a sneering tone – that Mr Zelensky was insufficiently grateful.