Vance responded to Zelensky’s accusation that he is justifying Putin

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has responded to criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused him of justifying the actions of the Russian leadership.

Vance addressed Zelensky’s remarks in an interview with UnHerd, following comments the Ukrainian president made the previous day in an interview with CBS.

In that interview, Zelensky claimed that during their first meeting, Vance told him: “It’s not a fact that it was the Russians who started the war.”

“This is a pattern we’re seeing in Ukraine’s interactions with American officials — a shift in reality. I believe the vice president, I would say, is in some way justifying Putin’s actions,” Zelensky said.

Vance rejected the accusations, calling them absurd:

“I think it’s kind of absurd for Zelensky to say that to a [U.S.] government that is currently sustaining both his government and his military efforts — that we are somehow on the side of the Russians,” Vance said.

He also emphasized the need to understand Russia’s strategic goals in order to resolve the conflict.

“If you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand the strategic objectives of both Russia and Ukraine. That doesn’t mean morally supporting the Russian side or condoning a full-scale invasion — but you do need to grasp where their red lines are, just as you need to understand what Ukraine is trying to achieve,” Vance explained.