Vice-president JD Vance responded to a scathing critic of his cousin Nate on Monday of his Russian-Ukraine war strategy.
Nate Vance, who spent years as a volunteer fighter for Ukraine against Russia, spoke to the French publication Le Figaro On Sunday, his reflections on the combative exchange between President Donald Trump, vice-president and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month.
Although he considers that his cousin was a “good guy” and “intelligent”, Nate Vance called the scene “an ambush in absolute bad faith”.
US President Donald Trump meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while US vice-president JD Vance reacts to the White House in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2025. (Reuters / Brian Snyder / Photo file)
Vice-president JD Vance reveals where things “separated” during the explosion of Trump-Zelenskyy at the White House
“Just because I’m linked to you that I’m going to stay on foot and you watch my comrades killed,” said Nate Vance. “When JD justifies his distrust of Zelenskyy by the” reports “he saw, I thought I was going to suffocate.”
Nate Vance was also offended by Vance calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and claiming that the Ukrainian leader “should thank the president for trying to end” the Ukraine Russian War.
“Donald Trump and my cousin clearly believe they can appease Vladimir Putin,” said Nate. “They are wrong. The Russians are not about to forget our support for Ukraine. We are the useful idiots of Vladimir Putin.”
Nate Vance added that he had left messages with the office of his cousin on the subject, given his experience on the front line in Ukraine.
“I could have told him the truth, unpretentious, without personal interest. He never tried to know more,” said Nate Vance.

Vance called Zelenskky “disrespectful” and said he “should thank” Trump for his help in the war. (Reuters)
Nate Vance made similar comments on “Erin Burnet Outfront” of CNN on Monday, saying that he was “surprised” by what he saw in the scene of the Oval Office.
“There is a certain level of decorum that should be reached. And, you know, I am not naive enough to think that, you know, national leaders do not debate in camera, “said Nate Vance.” But when you do this and you publicly, you know, in a way ridicule someone in public that they must almost defend themselves … It was really disappointing to see it for me. “”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the vice-president Vance said that he had never spoken publicly about the service of his cousin because he “did not want to put his life more in danger more than it was.”
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“Regarding his criticisms, I have no interest in discussing him in public, but I feel the need to solve a particular problem: his effort failed to contact me. I do not know why Nate felt the need to contact my Senate office, rather than her mother, her father or her sister, with whom I am in regular contact,” said Vance.

Vance said he was open to speaking with his Ukraine cousin despite his recent attacks. (AP photo / Stefan Jeremiah, file)
The vice-president added that he “always considered Nate the hardest guy [he] knew “and that he was” always happy to speak to him “.
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