NewsCousin criticises vice president Vance over Ukraine stance

Cousin criticises vice president Vance over Ukraine stance

Nate Vance, cousin of Vice President J.D. Vance, was on the front line in Donbas. In an interview with CNN, he shared his perspective on the war in Ukraine. He revealed that he witnessed Russian soldiers shooting at their own comrades.

Vance’s cousin was in Ukraine. A shocking account.
Vance’s cousin was in Ukraine. A shocking account.
Images source: © East News
Maciej Zubel

Nate Vance fought on the side of Ukraine as a volunteer. He appeared on the front line shortly after the outbreak of war in 2022.

In January 2025, when J.D. Vance became the Vice President of the USA, Nate decided to return to the United States. - It had become complicated to stay. I couldn't take the risk of being captured - he stated plainly. Now he shares what he witnessed on the front line.

- I personally witnessed them shooting their own soldiers, and it wasn't just, you know, a one-time incident. It happened quite frequently — so much so that you could consider it a policy for retreating troops - said Nate Vance.

In his opinion, this practice is "widespread" in Russian ranks.

J.D. Vance’s cousin harshly criticises the Trump administration's approach to the war in Ukraine. In his opinion, Vice President Vance and Trump are "Putin’s useful idiots".

- Just because I’m related to you doesn’t mean I’m going to stand by and watch you get my comrades killed - he said in an interview with "Le Figaro". - When JD justifies his distrust of Zelensky by the ‘reports’ he has seen, I thought I was going to choke - he expressed with indignation.

- His own cousin was on the frontlines. I could have told him the truth, without personal interest. He never tried to find out more – he added.

Family conflict. Cousin sharply criticises J.D. Vance

Nate Vance and J.D. Vance are closely related - they share common grandparents. J.D. Vance's mother, Beverly, is the sister of Nate’s father, James (J.D. Vance bears his mother's surname - ed.). They spent holidays together in childhood, either in Middletown, Ohio with J.D.’s family, or in California, where Nate’s family lived briefly.

In 2023 J.D. Vance was elected as the Senator of Ohio. A year later, in 2024, he became the 50th Vice President of the United States alongside Donald Trump.

Related content