Overview

• Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News he has not met Vladimir Putin but has spoken with him by phone multiple times.
• Vance described Putin as soft-spoken, deliberate and careful, and said Putin respects President Donald Trump for prioritizing U.S. interests.
• A separate clip showed Vance recalling an Oval Office greeting to Volodymyr Zelenskyy—“so long as you behave, I won’t say anything”—which he characterized as an icebreaker.
• Russia Today shared Vance’s remarks on X, giving the comments wider reach on Russian state-controlled media.
• Critics, including former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul and Rep. Don Bacon, condemned the portrayal of Putin, while coverage noted no announced change in U.S. policy.