JD Vance Clarifies Stance on Russia, Zelensky: ‘Absurd’

Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. must understand both Russia and Ukraine’s strategic red lines to end the war, and dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s “absurd” suggestion that Washington is taking Moscow’s side.

Vance said in an interview with UnHerd that he has criticized Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.

“I’ve also tried to apply strategic recognition that if you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand where both the Russians and the Ukrainians see their strategic objectives,” Vance told the publication.

“That doesn’t mean you morally support the Russian cause, or that you support the full-scale invasion, but you do have to try to understand what are their strategic red lines, in the same way that you have to try to understand what the Ukrainians are trying to get out of the conflict.”

He added: “I think it’s sort of absurd for Zelensky to tell the [American] government, which is currently keeping his entire government and war effort together, that we are somehow on the side of the Russians.”

Vance said Zelensky’s rhetoric “is certainly not productive”.

Newsweek has contacted the press office of Ukraine’s foreign ministry by email for comment.

This is a developing story and more information will be added soon.