Vance declines to call Ukraine a US ally, says no formal alliance exists
In short
US Vice President Vance said in a video interview that the United States has no formal alliance with Ukraine, calling it a partner in some respects. He said Ukraine is not a NATO member and should not join, and that Ukraine should stop bombing Russian diesel facilities, according to Xinhua.
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US Vice President Vance said in a video interview that the United States has no formal alliance with Ukraine, Xinhua reported in a dispatch from Washington dated 20 October. Asked on a programme called "2WAY Tonight" whether Ukraine is a US ally, he answered: "They are certainly a partner in some respects, but we have differences of interest from time to time." [ 4 ]
Pressed on whether "partner" is the same as "ally" or a less close relationship, Vance said: "As far as I know, we have no formal alliance with Ukraine." He said Ukraine is not a NATO member and should not join NATO. "We will cooperate on some matters, but on some things we will also disagree," he added. Xinhua summarised his position as saying cooperation between the two countries will continue. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Xinhua also reported that Vance said Ukraine's bombing of Russian diesel facilities has raised American energy costs and that Ukraine should stop attacking Russian energy facilities. China News Service, citing The Hill, put this as Ukraine halting bombing of Russian diesel power plants. [ 4 , 5 ]
Xinhua and China News Service gave background. In early October the Trump administration announced it was easing sanctions on Russian diesel trade and said it had reached an agreement under which Russia would supply diesel to the US and global markets. Ukraine opposed this, and US-Ukraine relations then worsened further, they said. [ 4 , 5 ]
China News Service added that President Trump has recently criticised Zelensky several times in public, saying Zelensky "may never have wanted to end the war" and calling on Ukraine to change its president. Trump said the US had given Ukraine a great deal and received nothing in return. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The remarks, as reported by Chinese outlets, come after the Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian diesel trade in early October and Ukraine objected. Xinhua and China News Service link this to a further worsening of US-Ukraine relations.
Key facts
- Asked in a video programme whether Ukraine is a US ally, Vance said: "They are certainly a partner in some respects, but we have differences of interest from time to time." [ 1 , 4 ]
- Pressed on whether a partner is the same as an ally, Vance said that as far as he knows, the US has no formal alliance with Ukraine. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Vance said Ukraine is not a NATO member and should not join NATO. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Xinhua said the programme is called "2WAY Tonight". [ 4 ]
- Vance said Ukraine's bombing of Russian diesel facilities raises American energy costs and that Ukraine should stop attacking Russian energy facilities. [ 4 ]
- Xinhua and China News Service said the Trump administration announced in early October that it would ease sanctions on Russian diesel trade. [ 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Vance said the US has no formal alliance with Ukraine, while cooperation between the two countries will continue. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Vance said Ukraine is not a NATO member and should not join NATO. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Trump administration announced in early October that it was easing sanctions on Russian diesel trade, and Ukraine opposed this. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Vance referred to Russian diesel facilities or diesel power plants. Xinhua says he spoke of diesel facilities; China News Service says diesel power plants.
- The exact date of the interview. Documents say only that it was recorded "recently"; Xinhua's dispatch is dated 20 October.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reported Vance's remarks (21 October). [ 1 ]
- Yicai published a report headlined that the US vice president declined to call Ukraine an ally (21 October). [ 2 ]
- Jiemian published a report citing Xinhua (21 October). [ 3 ]
- Xinhua published its Washington dispatch dated 20 October (21 October). [ 4 ]
- China News Service published its report, citing foreign media (22 October). [ 5 ]