JD Vance, vice president of the United States, said that he had been confronted Saturday by pro-Ukrainian demonstrators while out on a walk with his daughter.
Vance wrote on Saturday, “While walking with my 3-year-old daughter today, a group called ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed and shouted at her as she grew more and more anxious.
He continued, “I spoke with the protesters, hoping to trade some minutes of conversation in exchange for their leaving my child alone.” “Nearly everyone agreed.”
Vance said it was a “mostly respectful conversation, but if you’re chasing a 3-year-old as part of a political protest, you’re a s— person.”
The Ukrainian military uses the battle cry “Slava Ukraini”, which means “Glory be to Ukraine.”
The Trump Administration has stopped sharing intelligence and cut funding to Ukraine in the past week. This follows a heated exchange that took place between President Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office.
Tensions rose at the Oval Office on February 28 over a possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine after Zelenskyy claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not be trusted because he had broken other agreements.
Trump and Vance then accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for the support the U.S. has provided over the years and said the Ukrainian leader was in a “bad position” at the negotiating table.
“You’re playing cards,” Trump said. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III. You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country.”
When Vance informed Zelenskyy that Ukraine was having problems with manpower and recruiting, Zelenskyy replied, “War means everybody has problems. Even you.” He added that the U.S. will feel the effects of the war in the “future.”
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump responded. “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
Zelenskyy left the White House following the exchange. A scheduled press conference was cancelled, and the deal that Ukraine would give to the U.S. for its rare earth mineral was not signed.
Zelenskyy has been told by the White House that he must apologize publicly for his Oval Office Meeting or else the deal on minerals will not be considered.
Zelenskyy described the meeting as “regrettable” on Tuesday and stated that he was ready to work for peace with Trump’s assistance.
Vance and his family were also met with protesters on the weekend when they went skiing in Vermont, a day following their exchange on February 28.
They called him “a traitor” and told him to “go ski in Russia.”
Tim Miller, a liberal commentator, criticized Vance for his X-post on Saturday. He wrote, “Dozens of people are dead in Ukraine because you stopped providing them with the intelligence which protected their country from bombs, so you probably can handle some yelling boss in a country that is free.”
Trump said on Friday that he is considering “large scale” sanctions against Russia until a peace agreement and ceasefire are reached.
“Get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he wrote of Russia and Ukraine.
