By Katherine Tinsley
11:59pm PDT, Mar 11, 2025
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Nate Vance was candid about his disapproval of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance's approach to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
"Donald Trump and my cousin clearly believe they can placate Vladimir Putin," Nate told French outlet Le Figaro.
"Invoking a moniker historically often applied to people who are taken advantage of by ruthless political leaders," he continued. "They are wrong. The Russians are not about to forget our support for Ukraine. We are Vladimir Putin's useful idiots."
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After Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky's tense meeting in Washington, D.C., the U.S. stopped giving money and resources to the Eastern European nation.
"When he criticized aid to Ukraine, I told myself that it was because he had to please a certain electorate, that it was a game of politics," Nate Vance said.
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During their time in the Oval Office, J.D. Vance told Volodymyr Zelensky he had "watched and seen … stories" about Ukraine.
"I thought I was going to choke," Nate Vance said. "His own cousin was on the frontlines. I could have told him the truth, without personal interest. He never tried to find out more."
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Nate Vance made it clear that he was discussing J.D. Vance's actions because "being your family doesn't mean I'm going to accept you killing my comrades."
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J.D. Vance seemingly wants the U.S. to distance itself from Ukraine.
"I think that there are a lot of democracies in the world," the vice president told the Associated Press. "And every time that one of them gets into a conflict now, at the end, it can't be our concern."
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During J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky's conversation at the White House, the former senator questioned the Ukrainian president's leadership.
"What kind of diplomacy, J.D., you are speaking about?" Zelensky said. "What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country," the VP replied before losing his temper. "Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media."
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Donald Trump later hinted at the U.S. enabling Volodymyr Zelensky and his battle against the Russian invasion.
"The problem is I've empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don't think you'd be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave," Trump told the Ukrainian president, "but you're either going to make a deal or we're out."
"And if we're out, you'll fight it out and I don't think it's going to be pretty. … But you're not acting at all thankful, and that's not a nice thing," he added.
