Vice President's cousin battles in Ukraine, criticizes U.S. stance
Nate Vance, a cousin of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russia for nearly three years. His stance contrasts with his cousin's policy toward Ukraine.
Nate Vance participated in Ukraine's defensive war against Russia for nearly three years. According to Le Figaro, he expressed disappointment with his cousin's stance on Ukraine.
At 47, Nate Vance returned to Texas in January 2025 after spending nearly three years in Ukraine. There, he fought in key battles, such as the defense of Bakhmut and the battle for Pokrovsk. Before joining the Ukrainian volunteer forces, Nate gained experience in the U.S. Marine Corps. In an interview with Le Figaro, Nate Vance expressed his dissatisfaction with J.D. Vance's attitude toward Ukraine.
JD is a good and intelligent guy. When he criticized aid to Ukraine, I thought it was because he had to cater to a certain electorate and that it was just political maneuvering, said Nate Vance.
Life in Ukraine
During his time in Ukraine, Nate initially became involved in humanitarian efforts in Lviv before joining the "Da Vinci's Wolves" unit. He later became a part of the Honor organization, fighting against Russian imperialism since 2014. Nate highlighted that the members of this unit, despite being young, showed remarkable determination.
In Texas, where Nate permanently resides, his decisions are not always met with understanding. Even his mother, Donna, shares J.D. Vance's views, criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite consistently voting Republican, Nate is disappointed with the new U.S. authorities' stance toward Ukraine.
Donald Trump and my cousin clearly think they can placate Vladimir Putin. They are wrong. The Russians are not about to forget our support for Ukraine. We are Vladimir Putin’s useful idiots, stated Nate Vance.
Many commentators pointed out that J.D. Vance provoked the argument in the Oval Office during the meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. Some claimed that Vance aimed to position himself for the upcoming presidential elections, in which Trump can no longer run.
