Vice President JD Vance knocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a “sense of certain qualifications” during a clash between Kyiv leader and President Trump last week.
“Even when Zelensky was sort of needoring him, and even when Zelensky was saying something I thought wasn't true, the president was just trying to diplomacy,” Vance told Fox News' Sean Hannity. The Vice President said in one of his own answers to claim that he “really turned Zelensky off” that the encounter “really got off the rails.”
“As we kept going back and forth, I tried again to say, 'Well, maybe we should have this conversation privately.' And the president said, “In fact, I want to have it privately now.
The interview, recorded earlier Monday, is a major move following a confrontational meeting between the White House world leaders, after aired shortly after news that Trump ordered a pause on aid to Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Last week, visiting Trump in Washington, Zelensky was planning to sign up for a deal that would allow the US to access Ukraine's critical mineral supply. However, Trump cancelled discussions and insisted that Zelensky “is not ready for peace.”
During the meeting, Vance claimed he was “disrespectful” to “come to an oval office to try and litigate this in front of the American media.”
Zelensky then tried to test the relationship and expressed his appreciation for the US support, and Trump doubled his criticism. A suspend presidential aid will likely put more pressure on Zelensky to ease tensions with the US
Vance on “Hoanity” said the oval office conflict was “a great television.”
“Many of our European friends inflate him. They say, “You are a freedom warrior and you need to continue fighting forever.” Whose money and whose ammunition will they fight? The Vice President said about Zelensky.
But Vance also emphasized Trump's message, “Of course the door is open. As long as Zelensky wants to speak peace seriously.”
