'Sort of absurd': Zelensky, Vance’s relationship hits new low; US VP hits back after Ukraine accuses US of siding with Russia
World: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with CBS News, reflected on his strained meeting with Vance at the White House on 28 February.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance have once again clashed their metaphorical swords, with both leaders trading sharp words over America’s role in the war against Russia.
Speaking on 15 April, Vance hit back at recent comments made by Zelensky, calling it “absurd” to claim that the United States is siding with Moscow. “I think it's sort of absurd for Zelensky to tell the (American) government, which is currently keeping his entire government and war effort together, that we are somehow on the side of the Russians,” Vance told Reuters.
His comments followed an earlier interview in which Zelensky accused the US vice president of echoing Kremlin narratives and attempting to justify Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
'A shift in reality'
Zelensky, in an interview with CBS News, reflected on his strained meeting with Vance at the White House on 28 February. He described a “shift in tone, a shift in reality,” and criticised Vance’s unwillingness to acknowledge the suffering caused by the war.
)
India's Green Mirage: Northeast is quietly losing its forest cover while India celebrates gains
)
‘Pursue your goals’: Indian-origin philanthropist pays off loans for entire graduating class in US
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How much extra fuel does your car AC really use?
)
Karuppu director RJ Balaji breaks down over delay in release of Suriya-Trisha Krishnan starrer, gives update
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Xi wants China-US to transcend 'Thucydides Trap': What the term means and what are its origins | WION Decodes
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Beyond human limits’: The terrifying AI upgrade inside China's J-20 stealth fighter
)
Sun unleashes M-class solar flare, auroras could light up Earth this week. Details
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
What is China’s celebrated Huaiyang cuisine? A look inside the Trump-Xi state banquet menu
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
)
Book claims Brigitte slapped husband Macron after seeing messages from Iranian actress on his phone
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
7 reasons why China is mass-producing Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter jets faster than ever
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why defense analysts believe China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter program has entered a dangerous new era
)
'If mishandled...': Xi Jinping issues BIG warning to Trump over Taiwan, says it could lead to US-China conflict
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Night Vision': Why the USS Abraham Lincoln bans white flashlights on deck
)
‘Insane discipline’: Chinese officer goes viral for staying still as Trump’s Air Force One passes by | WATCH
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Hydraulic Arms': How the USS Abraham Lincoln pops up its emergency net
)
Jana Nayagan on OTT: Vijay’s victory renews interest in his film, streaming platforms compete to get digital rights
)
Antarctic cosmic dust proves Earth has been traversing through supernova debris for 80,000 years
)
'Made in Pakistan' fan donated to UP madrasa triggers probe
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Robotic warfare’: How the Chengdu J-20 can rewrite the rules of aerial combat
)
Cannes Film Festival 2026: Vin Diesel breaks down during ’Fast & Furious’ screening, remembers Paul Walker: 'I'm going to go shed a tear real quick'
)
Lost Saraswati River found at Prayagraj Sangam? Here's what scientists reveal
)
To block declassification? Whistleblower claims CIA ‘swooped in’ to seize MKUltra, JFK assassination files from Tulsi Gabbard’s office Trump order
)
'She never misses...’: Is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attending Cannes 2026? Brand breaks silence
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
36,000-pound thrust: 5 ways China's J-20 fighter jet's new engine can completely changes the aerial balance
)
Christopher Nolan breaks silence on Travis Scott casting criticism in The Odyssey: 'I cast him because...'
)
‘This is false’: Tulsi Gabbard’s office denies whistleblower claims on CIA raid and MKUltra files seizure
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Trump breaks silence on report of Pakistan allowing Iran spy aircraft at Nur Khan base amid mediation talks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Sleep Deprived': How the USS Abraham Lincoln crew survives endless night operations
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top 7 most economically stable countries in world: India & Pakistan ranking will surprise you
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
In lawyer's robe, Mamata Banerjee appears at Calcutta High Court: Can she wear it legally?
)
How did Marco Rubio, who’s under sanction by Beijing, get permission to travel to China for the first time?
)
Alia Bhatt meets F1 star Carlos Sainz Jr at Cannes 2026; fans react to the unexpected crossover | Watch
)
'Ready to fight but will defend diplomacy': Iran sends message to US from India, wants BRICS to shatter 'Western superiority'
During the Oval Office meeting, Zelensky invited Vance to Ukraine to witness the devastation firsthand. Vance declined the offer, accusing Kyiv of organising “propaganda tours” for Western officials to manipulate views on the war.
A long-standing divide
Vance, a key figure in the Trump administration's "America First" agenda, has long argued against US military aid to Ukraine. He says continued support places an unnecessary burden on American taxpayers and distracts from domestic issues.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Vance has been criticised for downplaying the conflict’s importance and repeating arguments seen as favourable to Russia. Just days after the war began, he said he “doesn't care about Ukraine,” a comment he has stood by, saying his focus is on protecting US interests.
"That doesn't mean you morally support the Russian cause, or that you support the full-scale invasion," Vance explained.
"But you do have to try to understand what are their strategic red lines, in the same way that you have to try to understand what the Ukrainians are trying to get out of the conflict," he added.
Zelensky warns of Russia’s true intentions
Zelensky, however, has remained firm in his warnings. He insists that Russia is not interested in dialogue but in domination and that Ukraine’s only hope lies in continued Western backing, military, financial, and political.
The disagreement between the two leaders highlights the growing divide between Kyiv and parts of the Trump administration, with Vance’s latest comments marking another low in their troubled relationship.
