Vance claims pro-Ukraine demonstrators ‘scared’ his daughter

(MENAFN) US Vice President J.D. Vance has accused a group of pro-Ukraine demonstrators of confronting him on the street and scaring his three-year-old daughter.

Vance, who recently drew criticism from Kiev supporters after he and President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office, shared his experience in a post on X on Saturday.

"Today, while walking my 3-year-old daughter, a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us around and shouted as my daughter grew increasingly anxious and scared," he wrote.

Vance said he attempted to engage with the protesters in hopes that a brief conversation would convince them to leave his child alone. "Nearly all of them agreed," he noted, adding that while the discussion remained mostly respectful, he condemned those who had confronted a toddler as part of a political demonstration.

The phrase ‘Slava Ukraini’ (Glory to Ukraine) originated in the early 20th century as a nationalist slogan and is now a widely used patriotic chant. However, some view it as controversial due to its association with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), a group that collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.

This was not the first time Vance has been targeted by pro-Ukraine activists. Over the weekend, demonstrators lined a route in Vermont, where Vance and his family were expected to travel for a ski trip, holding signs in support of Kiev.

Tensions between the US and Ukraine have escalated following a heated White House meeting on February 28, during which Vance accused Zelensky of failing to appreciate the extensive military and financial aid Washington has provided since 2022.

Earlier this week, Trump suspended weapons shipments and restricted intelligence sharing with Ukraine, arguing that Zelensky was resistant to his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump claimed that dealing with Ukraine was more challenging than dealing with Russia, emphasizing that Kiev was not in a position to make demands in peace talks.

MENAFN09032025000045015687ID1109293602