Nate Vance, cousin of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who volunteered to fight for Ukraine in 2022, is now openly criticizing the Trump administration's handling of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On February 28, a confrontation took place at the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Zelensky. During the meeting, Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and insisted that Ukraine had exhausted its leverage.
Shortly afterward, the administration halted military aid to Ukraine, including real-time intelligence sharing—an essential component of Kyiv's battlefield strategy. This move was part of a broader effort to pressure Zelensky into negotiating an end to the war. Nate Vance’s remarks echo the sentiments of those who believe Trump has been overly accommodating to Russian President Vladimir Putin in peace talks.
“We are Vladimir Putin's useful idiots,” Nate Vance told French newspaper Le Figaro, accusing his cousin and the president of ambushing Zelensky in the Oval Office.
A former U.S. Marine, Vance volunteered for Ukraine’s Da Vinci Wolves First Motorized Battalion following Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. He said he was initially motivated by curiosity and a sense of adventure but was ultimately driven by a deep desire to assist—whether through logistical support or medical aid.
“I saw history unfolding before my eyes, and I wanted to be part of it,” he explained.
Vance recounted participating in some of the war’s fiercest battles, including those in Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk. He returned from Ukraine in January, ahead of his cousin’s swearing-in as vice president, citing growing risks.
“I couldn’t take the chance of being captured,” he said.
Initially, Vance tried to rationalize his cousin’s criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine as political maneuvering. However, after witnessing the White House meeting, his perspective shifted.
“What they did to Zelensky was an ambush in bad faith,” he stated.
Vance expressed disappointment in JD Vance’s stance on Ukraine, lamenting that his cousin never sought his firsthand perspective on the war.
“Being family doesn’t mean I’ll accept you abandoning my comrades,” he said.
He further criticized JD Vance’s justification for distrusting Zelensky, saying, “When JD cited ‘reports’ as his reason, I nearly choked. His own cousin was on the front lines. I could have given him the truth—unfiltered, without personal gain. He never tried to learn more.”
“Donald Trump and my cousin believe they can appease Vladimir Putin. They are wrong. The Russians will not forget our support for Ukraine,” he added.
On March 5, CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox Business, “President Zelensky stated, ‘I am ready for peace, and I want President Donald Trump’s leadership to bring about that peace.’ The military and intelligence pause that enabled this discussion will likely be lifted, and we will continue working alongside Ukraine to counter aggression.”
During the White House meeting on February 28, JD Vance told Zelensky, “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s inappropriate for you to come into the Oval Office and argue this in front of the American media.”
Meanwhile, U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to pursuing a “lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis.”
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