Vance comments on U.S.-Ukraine relations
In remarks addressing the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, Vice President Vance emphasized that while Ukraine is a partner in various areas, it should not seek NATO membership. He pointed out that Ukraine’s military strikes against Russian diesel production facilities could lead to increased energy costs for Americans.
Responding to a question on whether Ukraine is an ally of the U.S., Vance stated, “In certain matters, it is certainly a partner.” He clarified that, despite some collaborations, he does not support Ukraine targeting Russian energy infrastructure, arguing, “I don’t think they should bomb Russian diesel production sites because it causes energy prices to rise for Americans.”
Vance further noted that to his knowledge, there is no formal alliance between the U.S. and Ukraine, highlighting that Ukraine is not a NATO member and expressing his belief that it should not join the alliance. “It’s a country that deserves great admiration, filled with wonderful people. We will collaborate on some issues, but on others, we will be at odds,” he stated.
Context
- Ukraine applied for expedited NATO membership in September 2022. During the July 2023 summit in Vilnius, allies eased the pathway to membership, but Kyiv did not receive an official invitation. The NATO summit declaration in Washington for 2024 indicated that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” However, the Trump administration previously stated that Ukraine’s NATO accession remains unrealistic.
- Relations between Ukraine and the U.S. have also strained following Trump’s announcement of a diesel agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9 and restrictions on Starlink services for Ukrainian military operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized these decisions, while Trump remarked that dealing with Zelensky was more complicated than with Putin.
