US Vice President JD Vance's sharp rebuke of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday has reignited debate over the U.S. stance on Ukraine and signaled a broader shift in Republican foreign policy. During the heated exchange, Vance accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" and questioned whether he had properly thanked the U.S. for its extensive military and financial support. The confrontation escalated when former President Donald Trump, siding with his vice president, dismissed Zelenskyy from the meeting, canceling a scheduled lunch and press conference. Vance's stance on Ukraine is not new. As a Senate candidate in 2022, he dismissed concerns over Russia's invasion, telling Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, "I don't really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other." He later told the Associated Press that every global conflict "can't be our concern." His rhetoric has remained consistent. Last year, Vance argued that U.S. aid to Ukraine amounted to "subsidizing the Europeans to do nothing" and criticized the war as having "no strategic end in sight." Vance's criticism of Zelenskyy on Friday marked his most public and forceful stance yet. The meeting, which began with diplomatic pleasantries, turned confrontational when Zelenskyy challenged Trump's push for direct talks with Russia. "What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?" Zelenskyy asked, referring to Russia's history of broken agreements. "I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country," Vance shot back, accusing Zelenskyy of litigating disagreements in front of the American press. Trump then escalated the confrontation, accusing the Ukrainian leader of prolonging the war rather than seeking peace. "You're gambling with World War III," he warned. The dramatic exchange underscored the evolving Republican position on foreign aid and intervention. Trump and Vance's approach signals a departure from the neoconservative policies that defined past GOP administrations, instead embracing a more isolationist "America First" doctrine. Vance's remarks quickly drew praise from Trump loyalists and criticism from both Democrats and establishment Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a longtime defense hawk, expressed support, writing on X: "I have never been more proud of President @realDonaldTrump and Vice President @JDVance for standing up for America First." Others, however, condemned the confrontation. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) fired back: "Zelenskyy has thanked our country over and over again both privately and publicly... Shame on you." Former Rep. Liz Cheney was even more forceful, calling Trump and Vance's stance "an abandonment of American values." She warned that history would judge the moment as one where "an American President and Vice President pressured a democratic ally to surrender to a KGB war criminal." Zelenskyy's dismissal from the White House raises questions about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine, particularly as Trump pursues a diplomatic solution favorable to Moscow. Meanwhile, European leaders have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, planning an emergency summit to discuss security concerns. — Agencies
