JD Vance’s cousin has voiced his disapproval of both JD and former President Donald Trump for their behavior towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The interaction occurred during a high-stakes meeting in the Oval Office this past February.

Nate Vance, who dedicated three years to volunteer work with the Ukrainian military after Russia’s invasion, conveyed his disappointment in a recent BBC interview. He remarked on the expected decorum from leaders, especially in public settings, and expressed dissatisfaction with how the meeting was conducted.

This discontent is not new for Nate Vance, who previously accused Trump and JD Vance of being “useful idiots” for Russian President Vladimir Putin in their handling of the Ukraine crisis, as noted in The Guardian.

During the live February meeting, tension was palpable. Trump intimated a potential withdrawal of US support without a resolution, cautioning Zelensky against escalating tensions to “a third world war.” JD Vance criticized Zelensky for airing concerns publicly, suggesting that he wasn’t sufficiently appreciative of US aid.

However, Nate Vance countered this assertion, highlighting Zelensky’s regular expressions of gratitude to supporters in Ukraine. He recognized that Zelensky might have fallen short in showing deference to Trump but argued that such deference was unwarranted given JD and Trump’s historical opposition to Zelensky’s efforts.

The situation deteriorated to the point where Zelensky’s time at the White House ended prematurely and a scheduled press conference was canceled. Following these events, military aid, satellite support, and intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine came to a halt.

Further controversy emerged when a reporter criticized Zelensky for not wearing a suit, questioning his informal military attire, which he doned since the conflict began as a show of unity with his troops. Nate Vance dismissed the critique as trivial, drawing attention to similar casual appearances by Elon Musk in the same venue.

Speaking to Le Figaro, Nate Vance described JD as a “good guy, intelligent,” but he was critical of how the meeting unfolded, calling it an “ambush of absolute bad faith.”

Despite his traditional Republican views, Nate’s perspective on this matter has shifted. He shared that his stance might seem unusual given his lifelong political allegiance, yet felt strongly that the current handling of this situation is misguided.

Addressing how Americans felt about the exchange, he estimated that 20% felt “disheartened” and cautioned against isolationism by reminding of previous global conflicts that followed such stances in history.

Zelensky, reflecting on the meeting, later termed the exchange as “regrettable,” while advocating for renewed dialogue and cooperation. In the meantime, the US continues diplomatic engagements with Ukraine and Russia, aiming to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict.

Recently, Trump asserted his effective dealings with Russia, though he acknowledged the complexities faced with Ukraine.