JD Vance reveals why he changed his stance on Russia-Ukraine war
Photo: US Vice President JD Vance (Getty Images)
Relations between Ukraine and the US have become much more productive after the dispute between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February this year, US Vice President JD Vance says in an interview with The New York Post.
"That was six [eight] months ago. We have turned over a new leaf. We’re trying to have productive relationships with both the Ukrainians and the Russians, because we want to end this conflict, and I think the president has a very good working relationship — and so do I — with all the parties involved," he says.
Vance acknowledges that his confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28 became "probably the most famous thing I’ve ever done, or maybe ever will do".
The politician explains that he was disappointed at the time and perceived Zelenskyy's behavior as rude, but he drew his own conclusions from it.
According to Vance, Washington is now seeking to build productive relationships with both the Ukrainian and Russian sides.
"If you asked me six months or so ago, I would have said, ‘They’re never going to stop fighting. This is going to be like Russia’s Vietnam,” Vance said. “’15 years later, they’re still going to be fighting.’ If you asked me a month ago, I would have said we’re making incredible progress [toward peace]," the politician says.
At the same time, Vance refused to make any predictions about the end of the war in Ukraine.
Oval Office argument
In February 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to the White House to discuss a possible agreement on mineral extraction with Donald Trump. The meeting began in a friendly atmosphere, but later turned into a tense discussion.
The reason was a statement by JD Vance, who told reporters that Ukraine and Russia should move on to diplomatic negotiations.
In response, Zelenskyy publicly questioned Vladimir Putin's willingness to engage in any diplomacy.
After that, a heated argument broke out between the parties right in front of the cameras. Vance accused Zelenskyy of not thanking the US for its assistance, and Trump backed him up, saying that Kyiv has no cards to play and risks starting World War III.
After that, Zelenskyy left the White House early.
Later, the US suspended both military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Support was restored after a meeting between American and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia.
