Vance's provocation of Zensky is unique. Was this also strategic?

It is February 19, 2022 and the tension is rising in Europe. At least 150,000 Russian soldiers are set up around Ukraine. European government leaders have alternated in Moscow to discourage Vladimir Putin. At the Security Conference in Munich, Vice President Kamala Harris says that Ukraine « is probably about to be invaded. » She expresses American support to the country and to NATO allies.

JD Vance is in the same day, in a black T-shirt and with white earplugs in, at home for his own bookcase. As part of his campaign to become Senator of Ohio, he gives an interview to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. « I think it's ridiculous that we focus on that limit of Ukraine, » he saysshrugging. « To be honest, I don't care what happens to Ukraine. »

Five days later, Russia opens the attack on Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine.

In the meantime James David Vance (40) is the vice president and in Munich he has just been strongly pulled against European allies. In his short political career, Vance has changed a lot of opinion. Most crucial about Donald Trump: the aversion With which Vance is famous was converted into worship and service. His indifference towards Ukraine has since turned into uncut hostility.

Trumps Vechthond

It was VANCE who openly sought confrontation in the White House with VolodyMyr Zensky. He provoked the Ukrainian president into an open conflict with Donald Trump. Zensky bite and Trump exploded. A dramatic turn of which the consequences cannot yet be foreseen.

Vance blamed Zelensky thanklessness and disrespect. But he himself went beyond his book by interrupting a conversation between two presidents. (White home watchers remember how Trumps previous vice president Mike Pence Almost petrified watch When Trump argued in the Oval Office with Democratic Congresseiders). A day earlier, Vce had also interfered with the press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but then by invitation from Trump.

Vance did not have his facts about Ukraine in order and had to admit that he knows the situation in the country alone from 'stories'. But on the right America enjoys how he turns out to be Trump's fighting dog on the international stage. Until Munich, the vice president ran the leather of his shoes in the Senate to persuade former colleagues to agree with Trumps controversial ministers candidates, but was invisible to the outside world.

Trump, please the center of attention, apparently has no problems with it in his own white house in his second term. Billionaire Elon Musk regularly performs to his crusade against the federal government and the extermination of officials praise. VANCE now clearly takes the role of sacrificing allies and international supporters for the isolationist faith. It was indicative of how Vance gave a pat on the back after the escalation with Zensky in the opposite of the press – not the other way around. Minister of Foreign Affairs Marco Rubio was uncomfortable.

Underdog in Ohio

Vance is seen as the one who has managed to formulate logic behind Trumps impulsive abroad. There are only American interests relevant, there is no place for justice, democracies do not have to be defended and the best thing is to do with single rulers.

VANCE probably even owes his job to his aversion to support to Ukraine. It was not at all obvious in 2022 that Vance would at all win the Republican pre -elections in Ohio. He was the Underdog until he fiercely spoke shortly after the Russian invasion against a no-fly zone In Ukraine. Trumps son Don Jr. Then tweeted: « JD is 100% America First« . Shortly thereafter, Dad Trump also expressed support for him.

As a senator, Vance won and led the – failed – opposition to all military and financial support that President Joe Biden sent to Ukraine. Last summer he was with the help of Don Jr. and the pro-Russian tech vestor David Sacks (now Trumps cryptotar) Trumps running.

Vance's employees deny against The Wall Street Journal that the confrontation a set -up Was to lure Zensky in the fall. He would have only wanted to defend Trump against a question if he's on Putin's side. But the result is that Republicans now openly say that Zensky has to resign.

Why Vance is specifically targeting Ukraine and Zensky is not clear. He has been against American military interventions since he himself served as a marine in Iraq. He left in 2005, he later wrote himself, « as a young idealist, dedicated to distribute democracy and liberalism in undeveloped countries. » And came back in 2006 as « skeptic of the war and the ideology that was the basis of it ».

Where many other new right -wing Americans are mainly against interventions where their own soldiers are sent, VANCE is also against financial support. And, it turned out to Zensky, against considerable manners with the leader of a country that has invaded.

In a comprehensive interview with The New York Times Last year, Vance showed himself even more nuanced. He said that Ukraine should give up territory and not become a member of NATO, as is now American policy, but also that « there must be any American security guarantee in the long term. » For Zensky, it is crucial whether Vance about this has not changed.

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