Latest news Ukraine

Former Ukraine volunteer Nate Vance meets with cousin VP JD Vance after publicly criticizing him

Nate Vance, who participated in battles for Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk while serving in Ukraine, says he remains skeptical about peace negotiations with Russia despite reconciling with his cousin, Vice President JD Vance.

byMaria Tril

25/04/2025

3 minute read

Nate Vance, cousin of the US Vice President JD Vance. Credit: Vance via X

Former Ukraine volunteer Nate Vance meets with cousin VP JD Vance after publicly criticizing him

Nate Vance, the cousin of US Vice President JD Vance who fought alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia, has opened up about his recent meeting with the vice president, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin reported on 25 April.

During their meeting, Nate was dressed casually, prompting journalists to ask whether this was a deliberate show of solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had been criticized for not wearing a suit during a controversial White House meeting.

“I asked JD: ‘Hey, I don’t want to sound cynical, but I don’t have a suit. Is that a problem?’ He replied: ‘Don’t worry, just come in. We have visitors all the time,'” Nate Vance told the German publication.

Nate Vance publicly criticized his cousin, US Vice President JD Vance, over US policy toward Ukraine and JD’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a high-profile Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump

According to Nate, his cousin understands why Zelenskyy doesn’t wear suits and doesn’t consider it disrespectful. He suggested the “performance” in the Oval Office was “directed at someone who wasn’t in the room” – possibly Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Nate Vance fought in Ukraine for nearly three years with the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, participating in battles for Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk before leaving military service in early January, shortly before his cousin’s inauguration as vice president.

The former US Marine made headlines in March when he publicly criticized the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine, telling French newspaper Le Figaro: “Donald Trump and my cousin apparently believe they can appease Vladimir Putin. They are wrong.”

Following their meeting, Nate said he now feels “more confident” but isn’t interested in quarreling with his cousin.“JD is an independent man. We can have different opinions. I don’t always have to understand him, it’s his life,” he said.

“I am certain the Russians will convince the US government that they don’t want peace,” he expressed skepticism about negotiations with Russia, adding: “I cannot predict the future of American foreign policy based on lunch with the vice president.”

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

JD Vance

We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!