Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for visiting a Pennsylvania ammunition plant earlier this week and said he should express more gratitude to the United States for providing foreign aid.
Vance, speaking at a rally in Newtown, expressed his disappointment in Zelensky's visit to campaign with Democratic leadership in Pennsylvania. He highlighted the significant financial support the United States has provided to Ukraine, totaling $200 billion, and suggested that Zelensky should show appreciation to the American people, particularly those in Pennsylvania.
During Zelensky's visit to Pennsylvania, he toured a Scranton manufacturing plant alongside Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, where critical munitions for Ukraine are produced. This visit drew criticism from GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, who deemed it as 'wildly inappropriate' and called for the dismissal of Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, for arranging the trip. Additionally, House Oversight Chair James Comer initiated an investigation into Zelensky's use of a US aircraft to travel to the Pennsylvania facility.
Notably, Zelensky held separate meetings with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump during his visit. Trump reportedly pledged a favorable outcome for both sides in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Vance's remarks followed Zelensky's recent comments in an interview with The New Yorker, where the Ukrainian President labeled Vance as 'too radical' and criticized his stance on territorial concessions for peace negotiations.
