United States Vice President JD Vance recalled a heated exchange of words with a Ukrainian immigrant in the backdrop of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which broke out in February 2022.
Sharing the run-in with the Ukranian-American man, Trump’s deputy said immigrants must identify themselves as Americans and should look out for the interests of the United States.
“During my senate campaign in 2022, I met a Ukrainian-American man in NE Ohio. He was very angry about my views on the conflict, and my desire to bring it to a rapid close. “You are trying to abandon my country, and I don’t like it.” “Sir, I replied, “your country is the United States of America, and so is mine,” Vance posted on X.
Calling it offensive for an immigrant to “use” the USA to settle ethnic rivalries, Vance said: “One of the most important parts of assimilation is seeing “your” country as the USA”.
“I always found it offensive that a new immigrant to our country would be willing to use the power and influence of their new nation to settle the ethnic rivalries of the old. One of the most important parts of assimilation is seeing *your* country as the USA. It’s part of the bargain: if you’re welcomed into our national family, you ought to look out for the interests of the United States,” he added.
The US Vice President said he was grateful for immigrants with the “right perspective”, who weigh the best interest of the United States.
“I know many immigrants who have the right perspective, and I’m grateful to them. For example, I met many Ukrainian Americans during that campaign (and since) who agreed with my views, or at the very least, asked the right question: what is in the best interests of the United States?” Vance wrote.
Vance’s post comes days after the United States aligned with Russia at the United Nations, voting against a resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move, under newly elected US President Donald Trump, has strained US-Europe ties and raised doubts about Washington’s shifting stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The UN general assembly vote saw the US and Russia opposing a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution that directly accused Moscow of aggression and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. The resolution was passed with 93 votes in favour, 18 against, and 65 abstentions.