US vice president responds to Zelenskyy's criticism: Accusations of siding with Russia are "absurd"

In a recent interview, US Vice President J.D. Vance dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's accusations that Washington had taken the side of Russia in the ongoing conflict.

Vance labeled Zelenskyy's words as “absurd,” stressing the US government’s pivotal role in supporting Ukraine’s military and government efforts, Caliber.Az reports.

“It is absurd that Zelenskyy is telling the US government, thanks to which his entire government and military efforts are now holding on, that we have somehow taken the side of Russia,” Vance said, calling the rhetoric “obviously unproductive.”

His remarks came in response to Zelenskyy’s criticism during an interview on 60 Minutes, where the Ukrainian president suggested that Vance and others in the US were “justifying” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Vance, who has consistently condemned Russia’s actions since the invasion began in 2022, clarified that his position was not one of moral support for Russia. Instead, he argued that understanding the strategic objectives of both Russia and Ukraine is essential to finding a path to resolve the conflict.

“I’ve also tried to apply strategic recognition that if you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand where both the Russians and the Ukrainians see their strategic objectives. That doesn’t mean you morally support the Russian cause, or that you support the full-scale invasion, 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,” Vance explained.

Vance’s comments highlight the complexities of the geopolitical landscape, particularly in Europe, where leaders are still grappling with issues such as immigration, integration, and security. According to Vance, many European policymakers are struggling to address the 21st-century challenges that are reshaping global dynamics. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, Vance's remarks underscore the increasing difficulty of reconciling diverse strategic interests amid a rapidly changing world order.

By Vafa Guliyeva