Kathrine Frich
JD Vance has taken an increasingly critical stance on US support for Ukraine.
He has argued that Washington should scale back its role and push Europe to take greater responsibility.
That stance has now drawn a sharp response from Kyiv.
Sharp criticism
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized US Vice President JD Vance following remarks about halting American weapons support.
In an interview with Newsmax cited by Onet, Zelensky responded directly to Vance’s comments about ending US-funded arms deliveries to Ukraine.
“If US Vice President JD Vance is proud of not helping Ukraine, it means he is helping Russia,” Zelensky said.
Policy shift
Earlier in April, Vance said one of the administration’s key decisions was to stop paying for weapons for Ukraine.
“That’s one of the things we did during this administration that I’m most proud of, that we told Europe that if they wanted to buy weapons, they could, but the United States is no longer buying weapons and sending them to Ukraine,” he said.
The policy reflects a broader shift in how the US is supporting Kyiv.
Zelensky rejected the idea that reducing support would help bring peace.
“I disagree with the vice president. We’re open. We’re not enemies. Russia is an enemy (…) and will always be an enemy of the United States. (…) They’re not allies. And if the vice president is proud of not helping us, then he’s helping the Russians. And I don’t think that strengthens the United States,” he said.
Warning on russia
The Ukrainian leader also warned against what he described as showing weakness toward Moscow.
“Maybe the vice president meant that it would speed up peace if the United States didn’t help us with weapons. But it doesn’t work that way with Russia; Russia doesn’t accept weakness,” he added.
Zelensky said Ukraine had been urged by partners to limit strikes on Russian energy infrastructure due to concerns linked to the Middle East.
“We received messages from our partners that, perhaps because of this challenge in the Middle East, we shouldn’t attack certain infrastructure, energy infrastructure in Russia. Of course, I said: no, we will respond (to Russian attacks). Let’s establish an energy ceasefire. But no one proposed that. (…) We are open to that. But if Russia attacks us, we will respond in every way,” he said.
He also suggested that US attention may be moving away from Ukraine.
“The problem is that the US priority has now shifted to the Middle East. I’m afraid that if we only have talks, Russia won’t feel the most important thing America can give us: pressure,” Zelensky said.
Sources: Polish Press Agency, Newsmax, Onet.
