Vance says Ukraine should not join NATO and calls for halt to strikes on Russian energy sites
US Vice President J.D. Vance described Ukraine as a US partner only in certain respects, said the country should not join NATO and urged Kyiv to stop attacking Russian energy facilities. He said those attacks raise energy prices for Americans, while acknowledging that Washington and Kyiv will continue cooperating on some issues despite disagreements.
Key points
- Vance said Ukraine should not become a NATO member.
- He urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy and diesel-production facilities.
- Vance said the attacks raise energy prices for Americans.
- He described Ukraine as a partner of the United States only in certain respects.
- The vice president said Washington has no official alliance with Ukraine.
- Vance said the US will continue cooperating with Ukraine on some issues while their positions diverge on others.
Why it matters
The remarks publicly question the depth of US support for Ukraine and signal the vice president's opposition to Ukrainian NATO membership. The call to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure also marks a significant point of pressure between Washington and Kyiv, especially amid reported tensions over intelligence sharing, sanctions and US policy toward Russia.
What happened
During an interview with 2WAY TONIGHT, Vance said Ukraine should not join NATO and called on Kyiv to stop striking Russian energy facilities, including diesel-production plants. He argued that such attacks increase energy costs for Americans. Vance nevertheless described Ukraine as a partner in a limited sense and said the US would continue cooperation on some issues despite disagreements. He also said Washington has no official alliance with Ukraine.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage treats Vance's remarks as a downgrade in the US-Ukrainian relationship, especially because they combine conditional language about partnership with opposition to NATO membership and pressure to stop attacks on Russian energy sites. The comments are presented alongside President Zelensky's accusations that the US is pressuring Ukraine to capitulate to Russia, delaying Patriot interceptor deliveries and weakening pressure on Moscow. Zelensky has argued that reducing pressure on Russia would not stop the war and could signal support for Putin.
Where reporting differs
The White House attributes the rise in global diesel prices to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities, while energy experts and media cited in the synthesis say the increase was driven primarily by Iran's attacks on refinery facilities in Persian Gulf countries. Ukrainian strikes are said to contribute only partially to the deficit. The two sides also differ in how they characterize their relationship: Vance describes Ukraine as a limited partner without a formal alliance, while Ukrainian officials have presented the US as a strong partner and called a perceived shift toward Russia a historic mistake.
Background
Ukraine began striking Russian oil refineries in 2024 and later said it was ready to stop such attacks if Russia stopped destroying Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Kyiv also resumed deep and middle-range strikes on Russia, framing the decision as necessary to reduce Russia's ability to finance the war. The White House has linked Ukrainian refinery attacks to higher diesel prices, while analysts cited by Ukrainian and international outlets point to other factors, including attacks on refineries in the Persian Gulf. Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite a reported energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.