Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned US Vice President JD Vance, alleging that he is “somehow justifying” Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned US Vice President JD Vance, alleging that he is “somehow justifying” Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine.
These comments represent Zelenskyy’s most direct criticism of Vance since their disagreement in the Oval Office in February.
As reported by Politico, referencing an interview on the US news program 60 Minutes, Zelenskyy indicated that some officials in the US government might be swayed by Russian disinformation, which promotes a skewed understanding of the war’s origins.
“Regrettably, I believe that Russian narratives are gaining traction in the US,” he stated, as translated by CBS.
“This highlights the significant impact of Russia’s information strategy on America, its politics, and its politicians,” Zelenskyy continued.
He specifically called out Vance, accusing him of “somehow justifying Putin’s actions.”
“I attempted to clarify, ‘You cannot seek a middle ground. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim,’” he remarked, recalling their tense exchange at the White House in February.
During that encounter, Vice President Vance labeled President Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” for claiming that Moscow would not adhere to a negotiated ceasefire and criticized him for what he viewed as a lack of appreciation for American support.
When Zelenskyy invited Vance to visit Ukraine to observe the destruction caused by Russia firsthand, the vice president rejected the invitation, accusing him of orchestrating a “propaganda tour.”
