The US vice president claims activists harassed him while he was with his young daughter.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance alleges that a group of vocal pro-Ukraine protesters confronted him on the street, causing distress to his daughter.
Vance drew criticism from supporters of Kiev after he and President Donald Trump reportedly rebuked Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office the previous month.
“Today, while walking with my 3-year-old daughter, a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us and shouted, which made my daughter increasingly anxious and scared,” Vance stated on X on Saturday.
“I chose to engage with the protesters, hoping to exchange a few minutes of conversation for them leaving my toddler alone. (Almost all of them agreed.) The conversation was mostly respectful, but if you are pursuing a 3-year-old as part of a political protest, you are a terrible person,” he added.
The phrase ‘Slava Ukaini’ (Glory to Ukraine) originated with Ukrainian nationalists in the early 20th century and has since become a Ukrainian patriotic slogan. Its use remains controversial for some due to its association with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), whose members collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II’s early years.
This was not the first instance of Vance being targeted by Ukraine’s supporters. Previously, hundreds of individuals displayed pro-Kiev signs along the route in Vermont where Vance and his family were expected to travel en route to a ski trip.
During a tense exchange at the White House on February 28, Vance reportedly accused Zelensky of ingratitude for the military and financial aid provided by the U.S. since 2022. Trump reportedly suspended weapons deliveries and limited intelligence sharing earlier in the week, arguing that Zelensky was not open to his mediation efforts for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he found Ukraine “more difficult” to deal with than Russia and reiterated his belief that Ukraine did not “have the cards” to make demands during negotiations.
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