Vance and Trump are ‘Putin’s useful idiots,’ says Vance’s cousin fighting in Ukraine

Nate Vance, a former U.S. Marine who spent three years defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion, branded his cousin—U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance—and President Donald Trump as “Putin’s useful idiots” in an interview published on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump (C) addresses a joint session of the United States Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 04 March 2025. Also pictured are US Vice President JD Vance (L) and US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

EPA/WIN MCNAMEE

Vance told Le Figaro he was “disappointed” in his cousin’s stance on Kyiv, particularly after Vice President Vance and Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting.

“I thought [J.D. Vance] was pandering for votes,” he said. “But what they did to Zelenskiy was an ambush of absolute dishonesty.”

He added that his cousin never contacted him despite knowing he was on the front lines.

“I could have told him the truth, without pretense, without personal interest. He never tried,” Vance said, noting he left Ukraine shortly before Trump’s inauguration to avoid the risk of capture by Russian forces.

The Biden-era military and intelligence support for Ukraine has been suspended under the Trump administration, fueling a diplomatic rift between Washington and Kyiv.

Vice President Vance has criticized Ukraine in the past, often echoing Kremlin talking points, according to critics.

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Source: Newsweek, Kyiv Independent, PAP, Le Figaro