Overview

• In a Fox News interview, the vice president described Vladimir Putin as soft-spoken, deliberate, and focused on Russia’s interests, saying Putin respects the U.S. president.
• He cast an urgent goal as to stop the killing, a formulation critics said downplays Kremlin responsibility for invading Ukraine.
• Vance said he has spoken with Putin by phone but has not met him, portraying the U.S. president as willing to work with anyone to advance American objectives.
• He recounted telling Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, “Mr. President, so long as you behave, I won’t say anything,” which he called a good icebreaker.
• The remarks drew sharp online criticism and were shared on X by Russia’s state-controlled RT, extending their reach beyond U.S. audiences.