Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently criticized US Republican candidate Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential pick, J.D. Vance, for his stance on ending the conflict between Kiev and Moscow. The comments were made as Zelensky arrived in the United States to attend the UN General Assembly in New York and meet with President Joe Biden at the White House.
Speaking to The New Yorker, Zelensky expressed concerns about Vance’s views, stating that his message seems to suggest Ukraine must make a sacrifice to end the war. This idea is unacceptable to the Ukrainian leader as he argues it would not resolve the fighting and sees Trump’s team’s promise to end the conflict as mere sloganeering.
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance opposes continued US funding of Ukraine and voted against a $61 billion aid bill that Congress passed this year. He has argued that the money sent to Kiev only fuels “the most corrupt leadership and government in Europe,” without ending the conflict. In contrast, Zelensky is seeking a peaceful solution based on Russia recognizing its 1991 borders, a condition Moscow has repeatedly refused.
Vance’s vision for settling the conflict differs significantly from that of the current US administration, which believes that a peace deal with Moscow should be made on Kiev’s terms. The Biden White House maintains that the US should support Ukraine with weapons and money “for as long as it takes.