VP J.D. Vance Warns Zelensky: ‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’ on Trump’s Ukraine Plans

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Alex Bollinger
February 20, 2025
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8 minutes read

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty-Images

Vice President J.D. Vance issued a stark warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to avoid publicly criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump as the administration considers plans to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to British right-wing influencer Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of The National Pulse, Vance advised Zelensky—whom he met last week—not to challenge Trump in public, as the U.S. and Russia negotiate Ukraine’s future without the country’s direct participation.

“Zelensky is getting really bad advice, and I don’t know from whom,” Vance told Kassam, a close associate of Steve Bannon and Nigel Farage. “He’s not dealing with Joe Biden and the Biden administration anymore. He’s dealing with Donald Trump and the Trump administration.”

Trump had reportedly demanded exclusive control “in perpetuity” over Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, oil, gas, and infrastructure in exchange for ending Russia’s invasion. After Zelensky rejected the deal, Trump blamed him for instigating the war nearly three years ago, prompting Zelensky to accuse him of “living in this disinformation bubble.”

“The idea that he’s going to litigate his disagreements with the president in the public square—I mean, you know the president very well, obviously, I know the president very well,” Vance stated. “This is not a good way to deal with President Trump. Of course, the Ukrainians are going to have their perspective. The way to surface that is in a private discussion with American diplomats.”

Vance and Elon Musk — President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance attend the NCAA college football game. (AP/Stephanie Scarbrough)

“He’s attacking the only reason this country exists, publicly, right now, and it’s disgraceful,” Vance added. “And it’s not something that is going to move the president of the United States. In fact, it’s going to have the opposite effect.”

Vance emphasized that official U.S. policy calls for elections in Ukraine, a demand Russia has also made since Zelensky’s term expired under martial law. The vice president insisted that any election outcome be respected.

“It’s a little rich for some of our European friends to attack Donald Trump for suggesting that Ukraine should have elections when they say that this is a war for democracy,” Vance argued. “How can you attack elections when your entire framing for the war in Ukraine is that it’s a war for democracy?”

Vance stressed that Trump is committed to ending the war and that his recent election victory gives him the authority to dictate terms.

“The president won the election, he won it convincingly, and he’s made clear that American policy is to stop the killing and bring the war to a close,” Vance said. “He has an incredible amount of sympathy and admiration for the people of Ukraine. He wants the killing to stop.”

“He has said the goal of administration policy is to end the conflict,” Vance concluded. “Zelensky has to take that seriously, our European allies have to take that seriously. That is the goal of administration policy. You’re not going to move the president away from that goal. You’re not going to change his mind, certainly not by attacking him publicly in the media.”