US Vice President JD Vance was met by angry pro-Ukraine protesters during a ski trip with his family in Vermont, a day after a tense Oval Office confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The demonstration forced Vance and his family to relocate to an undisclosed location, Fox News reported.
Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children had planned a weekend stay at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont. However, upon arrival, they were met with thousands of protesters waving pro-Ukraine, anti-Vance signs, accusing him of being sympathetic to Russia. Some banners read, “Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia.”
The protests followed a highly publicised meeting between US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy, which escalated into a rare public showdown. The meeting reportedly remained cordial until Vance confronted Zelenskyy. “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance told Zelenskyy , according to Daily Express US. He also accused the Ukrainian leader of campaigning for Democrats in the 2024 elections and failing to acknowledge US financial aid to Ukraine.
While some Republicans supported Vance’s stance, the heated exchange strained US-Ukraine relations, raising concerns about Washington’s commitment to Kyiv. Nikkie Lyubarsky, a Research Associate at The Soufan Center, told Daily Express US that Trump’s increasingly close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin marks a major shift in US foreign policy.
As protests grew outside the Vermont ski resort, Vance and his family left the area. Fox News confirmed that they were moved to a secure location.