U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his family were relocated to an “undisclosed location” after facing an intense protest by Ukraine supporters during their ski vacation in Vermont. The protest erupted following a high-stakes Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which took an unexpected turn when Vance launched a harsh verbal attack on Zelensky, leaving him visibly unprepared.

According to Fox News, Vance and his family were moved for security reasons after demonstrators confronted him, chanting slogans and holding signs that read, “Go ski in Russia!” The situation escalated when Zelensky inquired about diplomatic solutions, prompting Vance to respond, “I’m talking about diplomacy that will actually save your country from destruction.” He further accused Zelensky of interfering in the 2024 U.S. election in favor of the Democrats and failing to express sufficient gratitude for the billions in American aid.

Following the heated exchange, Zelensky told Fox News that he had no obligation to apologize to Trump. His treatment by Vance sparked public outrage, though some Republican figures, such as Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, praised Vance for his stance. Graham, a strong advocate for Ukraine, told reporters outside the White House, “I’m proud of J.D. Vance for taking a bold position.”

This incident has further strained U.S.-Ukraine relations, raising concerns about Washington’s commitment to Kyiv amid Russia’s ongoing aggression. Experts note that Trump’s increasing alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin signals a strategic shift for the U.S. Niki Lubarsky of the Soufan Center told the Daily Express US, “Even when U.S.-Russia relations were at their best, there was underlying tension and distrust. This kind of ‘brotherly’ relationship is unprecedented.”