Ohio senator J.D. Vance accused of playing Putin’s game

J.D. Vance confidently leads the criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine

Donald Trump and Senator J,D Vance

 VANDALIA, OHIO -Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ohio Republican U.S. Senator JD Vance

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is positioning himself as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump. Critics argue that Vance's recent statements on Ukraine seem to align closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin's interests. This year, Vance has criticized U.S. policy on Ukraine in prominent forums such as the New York Times and the Senate floor, even traveling to Munich to advocate his stance. He has opposed American aid to Ukraine and called for immediate negotiations to end the conflict. However, experts warn that Vance's approach could inadvertently embolden Putin, potentially encouraging Russian aggression and undermining neighboring democracies. Bill Browder, a prominent human-rights activist, criticizes Vance's stance as detrimental to U.S. and global interests in countering Russian influence. Vance's office declined to comment on these concerns. In response, Vance has acknowledged Putin's reputation but emphasized other global priorities, particularly in East Asia.

The Ambitions of Putin

Tetiana Hranchak, a Ukrainian researcher now at Syracuse University after fleeing Putin's invasion, argues that the current U.S. stance not only alienates key allies but also fails to grasp Putin's true threat. According to her, understanding Putin's ambitions in Europe means recognizing his view of himself as following in the footsteps of figures like Joseph Stalin and Peter the Great. Hranchak explains that Putin sees the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union's collapse as humiliations inflicted by the U.S.-led West.

"He's driven by three main goals: Power, greatness, and revenge," Hranchak emphasized in a recent interview. "Democracy isn't his aim; he seeks to dominate others completely." She elaborated that Putin aims to establish a new Eurasian empire, settle scores with the West for the Cold War, and separate Europe from U.S. influence at any cost.

During the Munich security conference in February, Vance criticized Putin over the suspicious death of Alexy Navalny, a prominent opposition leader imprisoned by Putin. "I've never claimed Putin is benevolent," Vance remarked.

Shared burden

Senator Vance has been vocal about his belief that Germany and other Western European nations are not contributing their fair share to defend their interests, leaving the United States to bear the brunt.

"For three years, European leaders have warned us about the threat Vladimir Putin poses to Europe," Vance stated in April. "Yet, they have consistently failed to act accordingly. Donald Trump was criticized for urging Germany to increase its defense spending and take responsibility for its own security."

Trump has frequently criticized NATO allies for not fulfilling their obligations in the mutual defense alliance, going so far as to threaten withdrawal from NATO altogether.

According to Charles A. Kupchan, a professor at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Putin views NATO's expansion and security guarantees as a direct threat, especially as they approach Russia's borders. Robert Person, an associate professor at the U.S. Military Academy, and Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, argue in the Journal of Democracy that Putin perceives NATO's democratic presence nearby as a challenge to his autocratic rule.

The claim that Germany and other NATO members are not pulling their weight regarding Ukraine is contentious. When considering aid on a per-capita basis, the United States ranks 16th in generosity, as per data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Moreover, Germany announced plans in January to allocate 2% of its GDP to defense this year, aligning with the target Trump criticized NATO members for not meeting.

Despite this, Vance persists in advocating a policy that aligns closely with what Putin desires most to hear from U.S. leaders: halting American aid to Ukraine's resistance against Russia's invasion. Vance contends that supporting Ukraine militarily is futile.

"I keep returning to the question of 'abandoning Ukraine,'" Vance noted in Munich. "Even if Congress approves the current $61 billion aid package, I must be frank—it won't alter the battlefield reality significantly."