Vance declines to call Ukraine a US ally, says Kyiv should stop hitting Russian refineries
In short
US Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with 2WAY, did not call Ukraine an ally of the United States. He said the two countries have no official alliance and that Kyiv should stop striking Russian oil refineries, according to TASS, Vedomosti and RBC.
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US Vice President JD Vance did not call Ukraine an ally of the United States in an interview with 2WAY, TASS, Vedomosti and RBC reported. According to Vedomosti, he said the countries are not in an official alliance. TASS and RBC reported that he said Kyiv must stop striking Russian oil refineries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti, citing TASS, quoted Vance as saying Ukraine is "in some sense a partner" but that "our interests diverge from time to time". He also said: "As far as I know, we have no official alliance with Ukraine." [ 2 ]
Vance said strikes on Russian diesel production facilities lead to higher energy prices for Americans, according to Vedomosti. He said the US will continue to work with Ukraine "on some issues", but that Kyiv should stop striking Russian energy facilities. [ 2 ]
Vedomosti said relations between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have worsened in recent weeks. It said Trump stated that it was time for Ukraine to change its president, accused Zelensky of unwillingness to settle the conflict and blamed him for strikes on Russian refineries, which Trump said provoke higher global fuel prices. Zelensky criticised a US-Russia deal on diesel fuel supplies and called Trump "weak", Vedomosti said. RBC said the diesel deal had earlier sharpened the Kyiv-Washington conflict. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti also reported that on 18 October Zelensky accused the Trump administration of restricting Starlink in Ukraine, which the American side has repeatedly denied. On 19 October Zelensky repeated that the restrictions remain, it said. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The remarks come as relations between the US and Ukrainian presidents have worsened in recent weeks, according to Vedomosti. RBC links the dispute to a US diesel deal with Russia. The documents give no further basis for assessing consequences.
Key facts
- Vance did not call Ukraine a US ally in an interview with 2WAY. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Vance said Kyiv should stop striking Russian oil refineries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Vance said: "As far as I know, we have no official alliance with Ukraine." [ 2 ]
- Vance said Ukraine is "in some sense a partner" but that US and Ukrainian interests diverge from time to time. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vance said strikes on Russian diesel production sites push up energy prices for Americans. [ 2 ]
- Vance said the US will keep working with Ukraine "on some issues". [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the US restricts Starlink in Ukraine. Vedomosti reports that Zelensky accused the Trump administration on 18 October of limiting Starlink and repeated on 19 October that restrictions remain, while the American side has repeatedly denied it.
- Details of the US-Russia diesel deal. RBC and Vedomosti mention the deal, but the available texts give no terms.