US Vice President J.D. Vance has accused European allies of encouraging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to maintain a hardline stance, which Vance believes is detrimental to the people of Ukraine.
During a recent meeting in the Oval Office, Vance and President Trump reportedly had a heated exchange with Zelenskyy, after which the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the White House. In an interview with Fox News, Vance accused high-ranking European officials of privately acknowledging that the funding of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia cannot be sustained indefinitely, but publicly promising to support Zelenskyy for the next decade.
Vance stated that some European leaders, while privately acknowledging the limitations of the financial support, publicly pledge to back Zelenskyy for the next decade. He believes that this stance “does a disservice to the Ukrainians”.
Vance also implied that Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House was intended as a ceremonial event, but it escalated into a verbal confrontation when the Ukrainian president rejected the possibility of diplomatic cooperation with Russia. Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine, has called for Zelenskyy’s resignation following the incident.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had previously warned Zelenskyy not to test the limits of American patience and support. Waltz stated that time is not on the side of those who want to prolong the conflict and that the patience of Americans is not infinite, their wallets are not bottomless and their ammunition depots are not either.
According to US media reports, the US has suspended the delivery of new weapons to Ukraine and has also put on hold the transfer of already delivered weapons, which are currently stored in Poland. The military aid is reportedly to be resumed only if President Trump determines that Ukraine is committed to peace talks with Russia.