U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance isn’t holding back—he’s accusing European leaders of feeding Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s ego and pushing unrealistic expectations that ultimately hurt Ukraine’s people.
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday, Vance criticized senior European officials for publicly backing Zelensky despite privately admitting that endless financial and military support isn’t sustainable.
“They tell him he’s a freedom fighter, that he must keep fighting forever. But with what? Whose money? Whose weapons? Whose lives?” Vance asked.
His comments follow Friday’s dramatic Oval Office clash, where Zelensky and President Donald Trump exchanged heated words before Trump cut the meeting short and sent the Ukrainian leader packing. The confrontation erupted when Zelensky dismissed the idea of peace talks with Russia, turning what was meant to be a routine diplomatic visit into a spectacle.
Even longtime Ukraine supporter Senator Lindsey Graham has distanced himself from Zelensky, going so far as to suggest he step down. “When you’ve lost Lindsey Graham, that’s a sign—it’s time to negotiate,” Vance said. He stressed that blindly funneling resources into the war without a clear endgame isn’t a strategy.
Meanwhile, Zelensky remains defiant. He insists he did nothing wrong and has since traveled to London to rally European support. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a “coalition of the willing” that could send troops to Ukraine—but only if a peace deal with Russia is reached.
Despite Europe’s posturing, many officials acknowledge that any military deployment would need U.S. backing, which Trump has made clear won’t happen. His administration has firmly ruled out sending American troops into the conflict.
