Zelensky: JD Vance must understand ‘millions will be killed’ without US aid to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that “millions will be killed” in his country’s war with Russia without additional funding from the United States.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Zelensky in an interview to respond to comments made by Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who claimed Ukraine’s outcome in its war will not be changed even if it receives the President Biden’s $60 billion aid request. Zelensky said he wasn’t sure if Vance “understands what is going on here.”

“To understand it is to come to the front line to see what’s going on, to speak with the people, then to go to civilians to understand … what will [happen to] them without this support. And he will understand that millions … will be killed. It’s a fact,” Zelensky said.

sin_free_for_00_days,

It has to suck so bad for Zelensky to be looking over here at the US and seeing one of the two parties is Putin’s lapdog.

wildcardology,

Uhm the republicans let millions of their own citizens die of covid why would they care about Ukrainians?

Thirdborne,

It’s his job to milk the rest of us for all he can get but I’m still sick of him coming round with his hand out.

muse,
@muse@fedia.io avatar

Please shut up tankie

Thirdborne,

One coin, two sides. What agenda has you looking up and responding to my 2 month old comment? Makes me think all these cries of “Russian bot!” Are projection of some kind. But you know, I don’t think your shit resonates with any human.

dangblingus,

JD Vance is a charlatan and a spokesperson for the alt-right. He didn’t write Hillbilly Elegy, and he’s actively promoting the presidency of someone who said they would turn the US into a dictatorship.

jobby,

Oh… he doesn’t care. Or maybe he does, but he likes the thought.

People like JD Vance get off on cruelty.

Burn_The_Right,

millions will be killed

Nothing excites a conservative more than the agony and death of millions of innocent people. Bloodlust of the vulnerable is a fundamental conservative trait.

Mastengwe, (edited )

Isn’t it amazing how what Russia is doing in Ukraine isn’t genocide simply because of how Biden handles it?

Who knew that the definition of “genocide” was entirely reliant on what one US president did.

Seems no rats’s asses are given about what’s going on over there, nor any props given that Biden is helping them to defend themselves-

dangblingus,

I seem to recall the internet absolutely called Ukraine a genocide when Russia started abducting and deporting Ukrainian children.

Mastengwe,

And they’re still doing that. Guess it’s just not cool anymore to mention it now that Biden is an easier target for right wing pripaganda.

InternetUser2012,

Biden could come up with world peace, feed everyone for free and have health insurance for everyone along with the best economy we’ve ever seeen and the Republicans would still be talking shit about a made up laptop.

Mastengwe,

And socialists would still be accusing him of genocide.

doingthestuff,

Americans are choosing between food and housing. I’m choosing to pay to keep my house and I’m thankful I can hit up food pantries here and there. It’d be cool if billionaires paid for that shit but here we are.

Thief_of_Crows,

Damn, that sucks. Not sure why it’s our problem though. Millions of Russians will be killed if we do give them aid. Ukraine should learn to solve their own problems.

dangblingus,

Brutal take.

Enjoy your vodka.

HikingVet,

Aid wouldn’t be needed if the ruzzians withdraw from Ukraine.

Thief_of_Crows,

Why should I, an American, care that they need aid? Those $160 billion could have been spent on healthcare for our people. We have our own problems to deal with, wars in the eastern hemisphere are not our problem.

tiltinyall,

A destabilized EU, and that’s a guarantee there, would economically impact the entire world in ways that U.S.A exceptionalists can not ever seem to grasp.

HikingVet,

Lol, just be quiet troll. It’s easy looking at your post history that you have an agenda that is aligned with the opposition of America.

A degraded russian military is good for pretty much everyone.

And by the way you talk you probably don’t give a shit about socialised healthcare. It’s just a stick you can use to hit people with.

Thief_of_Crows,

Yes, I too can tell by what I write that I disagree with America on a lot. Good observation.

Maybe since you don’t know anything about me you should just take me at my word that I hold the extremely common belief I am claiming to.

The fact you talk about fixing America’s problems as a stick to hit people with shows that you hate america. You want us to be in forever wars and keep getting drained by billionaires

HikingVet,

Not an American.

You have some pretty dumb ideas about foreign policy.

The fact that you used healthcare as an example is a conservative dogwhistle, and a rather ineffective one at that.

Isolationism is something your country cannot go back to. That idea was rightly killed over a century ago, as if it was ever actually fully realised.

I thought your country at least paid lip service to freedom and democracy worldwide, how is letting Russia invade and annex another country good for you?

It’s not hard to tell that you aren’t someone who actually understands the topic, or is acting in good faith here.

Thief_of_Crows,

Please, tell me more about how acknowledging the fact that Americans can’t afford healthcare is a conservative dog whistle. LMAO.

There are options between full isolation, and the current state of America which is to jump at any chance we find to sell people missiles. Even better if those missiles are being aimed at brown people.

America needs to stay out of other people’s affairs. The UN exists for a reason. If the UN (along with the country itself) formally requests military aid somewhere, then we should go. Otherwise there shouldn’t be a single base or soldier not on American soil.

HikingVet,

Well, Ukraine formally asked for aid at the beginning of Russia’s “special military operation”. Soooooo…

The US hasn’t sold a single thing to Ukraine, but has been donating their old stock.

How is helping Ukraine not a good thing? Doesn’t that increase security by having another friendly nation on your side?

Your arguments are rather weak. Seriously, how does allowing Russia have its way benefit anyone but Russia?

Thief_of_Crows,

Old stock? We’ve spent $75 billion on Ukraine. Does hurting Russia actually help us $75 billion worth? Hardly. Sure, it’d be great if Ukraine won, but that money could rebuild the crumbling infrastructure, give us M4A, or a million other things that are actually impacting Americans.

HikingVet,

Wow, it’s almost like the US could do all of that at the same time…

Allies aren’t cheap to earn, and if you want to not be the world police you need a lot of them.

Or do you think that the countries that are opposed to the US would just not do anything if you sat on your hands? Or their Allies come to their aid when they needed it?

Szymon,

Why would millions of Russians be killed if Russia left Ukraine and went back home? Its Putin, not Ukraine. Slava Ukrainia!

Thief_of_Crows,

The weapons we give Ukraine are going to be used to kill millions of Russians

jordanlund,
@jordanlund@lemmy.world avatar

Only if millions of Russians invade Ukraine, which so far, is not happening.

HikingVet,

There is an easy way for Russia to prevent those deaths (even though your numbers are hyperbolic): Pulling out of Ukraine, to the 2014 borders. Easy peasy, no more dead russians.

TruthAintEasy,
TruthAintEasy avatar

Oh it is our problem, if Russia takes and keeps Ukrain that tells the whole world expansionism is back on the table. If you think war cant find its way to your doorstep, your wrong

Thief_of_Crows,

Damn, good thing America has all 10 of the worlds largest militaries then. Very much not concerned with that.

TruthAintEasy,
TruthAintEasy avatar

War on your doorstep as an american doesnt look like enemy soldiers in the street. More like you wake up one day with no power, no tap water, no phone service, no internet, no way to get news or ask for help. Eventually a cop car rolls down the street loudspeaker blaring shelter in place orders, national guard will bring food and water later yadda yadda and all because we are extremely complacent towards security of utilities in the cyber space

Sounds fun right?

Thief_of_Crows,

That just sounds like typical late stage capitalism, lol. But I have nothing against defense spending. America has very little defense spending though. The thing we call “defense” is very obviously 90% offense. America should spend our money helping our own people, not screwing around in wars half way around the world.

Omnificer,

How did you come to the calculation of millions of Russians?

Thief_of_Crows,

Why would it be millions of one side but not the other?

Omnificer,

Because the millions for Ukraine accounts for civilian casualties, not purely military. For anything similar Ukraine would have to counter invade Russia and launch artillery at residential areas.

Even if we assume the worst of Ukraine’s intent, they wouldn’t have the capability to go beyond securing their borders.

Thief_of_Crows,

Do you think civilians would die if Ukraine surrendered? Based on what evidence?

Omnificer,

You’re moving goalposts here. You said millions of Russians would die if Ukraine was given aid and I asked how you determined that number. By the same token, Russia should simply surrender.

jordanlund,
@jordanlund@lemmy.world avatar

Read up:

state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/

Thief_of_Crows,

Okay but why should I care if Russia takes a small portion of Ukraine? Y’all got relatives in sevastopol or something? Let them take it, we need to fix our own problems, like healthcare that nobody can afford.

Mirshe,

Because it’s not a “small” portion they WANT. That’s what’s known as a “beachhead”. Putin and the rest of the Duma have signaled that they want UKRAINE, in its totality, and preferably would not like those people with their ideas of “independence from Russia” in their heads - hence Putin actually saying the only victory he would accept is the destruction of Ukrainian identity as a concept (war against a concept doesn’t end well - see “war on terror/war on drugs”.) This is also ignoring the fact that Russia ALREADY tried the “storm in, kill the head of state, annex the country” bit with Georgia back in 2008, and got their shit kicked in by the Georgian military. Expansionist powers like Russia don’t just stop with whatever country they’re currently invading - there’s always another “over there” to go conquer.

If you want more evidence on this, I highly recommend you read up on a little thing called Imperial Japan, or potentially just Manifest Destiny. There’s never such a thing as “enough” for a state hellbent on expanding at all costs into territory they think is rightfully “theirs”.

jordanlund,
@jordanlund@lemmy.world avatar

Because they aren’t going to stop. See when they took Crimea in 2014, now it’s a full invasion.

You don’t try to appease fascists.

Hominine,
@Hominine@lemmy.world avatar

Watch this clown decry genocide one comment prior. Spineless agitprop.

Thief_of_Crows,

Genocide is awful. If Russia were doing that in Ukraine, I’d be all for a war over it. This is a war over a couple ports Russia wants. Completely irrelevant to america, and not our problem.

sailingbythelee,

Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine, assuming we are using the rather expansive definition that people are now using for the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The US should definitely support Ukraine, but Europe could do a hell of a lot more to ramp up war production. All the talk is about US aid, but the Europeans are being massive pussies. They brag about sending more food and medical aid, but Russia won’t be intimidated by that. Europe needs to convert to a war economy, massively ramp up war production, and supply Ukraine with unlimited military equipment. This is a war whose outcome will be determined by industrial production, which means Russia will certainly win if Europe doesn’t get its collective ass in gear. The US should take the opportunity to ramp up military production as well, but the Europeans are a lot closer to the action and have much more at stake. The Europeans should agree to take the lead on Ukraine while the US gears up for competition with China.

Thief_of_Crows,

No, they are not. Israel is though. These things have definitions for a reason. If Europe and Russia want to have a war, they can go right ahead. America needs to stay out of it though. Fuck their wars. I would happily dodge a draft, as would most people I know. America needs to learn to make money by building things, instead of by blowing them up. No war with Russia, no war with China, ever. If Congress wants a war, it better be drafting every single child of a congressman first. Otherwise Americans are not going to show up.

dangblingus, (edited )

Russia abducted and deported thousands of children. That alone meets the criteria agreed upon in the UN for genocide.

The lowkey pro-Russian takes you have are as transparent as they are full of logical inconsistencies.

sailingbythelee,

I’m not sure where you are getting the idea that what Russia is doing in Ukraine is somehow less genocidal than what Israel is doing. At least Israel has the excuse that they were attacked by Hamas, and that Hamas’s ultimate goal is the extermination of Israel. Ukraine did nothing to Russia and has no thought of eliminating Russia as a country. Ukraine’s only “crime” was being friendly with the West, which also has no intention of eliminating Russia, except in Putin’s paranoid fantasies.

Thief_of_Crows,

Do you think Hamas started the violence? Because, no that’s not remotely close to true.

sailingbythelee,

Nope. And the “who started it” conversation doesn’t go anywhere useful.

Thief_of_Crows,

It’s important as context for understanding why one is a genocide and the other isn’t

InternetUser2012,

Tell us you’re a bot please. IF you’re not, you are either a troll (I would hope) or you’re an uneducated sucker with two brain cells fighting for third place.

Thief_of_Crows,

Don’t you know that everyone who disagrees with you is a bot? Most numbskull argument I’ve ever heard.

InternetUser2012,

So a bot, thanks.

Thief_of_Crows,

I’m pretty obviously not a bot, this is next level cope.

HikingVet,

No, bots have better scripts. You’re just a troll with bad material.

InternetUser2012,

Bad bot

Voran,

They are solving their own problems by fighting back. Unfortunately that requires missiles that fucking cost money.

Thief_of_Crows,

So they aren’t solving them then? Why do we have to pay for their missiles? We can’t afford to fight their war for them.

Armen12,

Ukraine is our ally so we’re obliged to help them, on top of which we’re also obliged to all humanity to put an end to Russian aggression. Russia literally invaded Ukraine proper along with Belarus and they were bombing their capital. And lets not forget the crazy unhinged rhetoric from Putin about invading other countries too. This won’t end with Ukraine, they’ll get high off the victory and invade someone else in the future if we don’t stop them

dangblingus,

What do you think happens once Russia conquers Ukraine?

Thief_of_Crows,

What happens is the other 90% of Ukraine will be fine, and Crimea will be Russian.

Voran,

You think Russia is gonna stop at invading Ukraine if someone doesn’t put a dent in them?

Thief_of_Crows,

Yes. Why would anyone think otherwise based on logic?

Voran,

…you do know they used to have an extensive empire and want it back

MedicPigBabySaver,

deleted_by_moderator

    •
    Thief_of_Crows,

    LMAO, because I don’t want America to get in a war with Russia that is not remotely relevant to us? Y’all are brainwashed as fuck if you think Russia is the only evil country in the world.

    SuperIce,

    Maybe Russia shouldn’t invade other countries if they don’t want their people to die

    Thief_of_Crows,

    Still not seeing why America is supposed to give a crap about a war on the other side of the globe. We are still responsible for the deaths of millions if we give Ukraine all the weapons they desire.

    aidan,

    Ironically exactly the opposite was upvoted in regards to hamas. That just because a government did something bad, the people don’t need to be punished- which I agree with.

    Kalkaline,
    @Kalkaline@leminal.space avatar

    Ukraine is the world’s “bread basket” they produce a ton of the world supply of wheat and barley.

    Thief_of_Crows,

    Okay? So we just trade with Russia instead if they lose. The wheat is t going anywhere, though I’m sure we’d do just fine without it.

    HikingVet,

    This is some appeasement shit.

    Thief_of_Crows,

    You said we need the grain there. We will still be able to get the grain that’s there. How’s that appeasement?

    HikingVet,

    How is it not? Allowing Russia to invade and take over another country is some 18th century shit, and tells them they can do this with impunity.

    So, you push isolationist, defeatist and appeasement propaganda and you wonder why people call you a bot and a troll.

    Thief_of_Crows,

    Let the UN stop them then. America can’t afford to be the world police.

    HikingVet,

    Do your thoughts echo in your head?

    jordanlund,
    @jordanlund@lemmy.world avatar

    America isn’t being the World Police, not in this instance. We’re enabling the Ukrainians to defend themselves, but otherwise are not active participants.

    Neither is the UN, BTW. This is a war Ukraine has to fight and win on their own.

    InternetUser2012,

    Hey, I want your car. You should give me your car so I don’t have to forcefully take it from you. Ok? Great, let me know where to pick up it. Don’t like that idea? Why not?

    Thief_of_Crows,

    Sure thing, just bring several million men to my house.

    TruthAintEasy,
    TruthAintEasy avatar

    For 50 years its been Russia bad, Communists evil. And now the USA has a freed hand to fund a proxy war with Russia and they just cant agree on it? Smells like Kompromat

    MedicPigBabySaver,

    Trump and many of his psycho cronies are bought and paid for by Russia.

    tacosplease,

    And don’t forget Russia hacked the RNC the same time they hacked the DNC. They only released what they hacked from the DNC though.

    Seems very likely whatever was on the RNC servers was far worse than what was on the DNC servers, because gestures broadly at Republicans.

    So why haven’t we seen anything from the RNC hack? The answer that makes the most sense to me is that the RNC hacked info is being used to blackmail several Republicans into working for Russia.

    Armen12,

    It is awkward I must admit. Now idea what’s going on with Republicans since 2016 but they’re legit psychotic

    ptz,
    @ptz@dubvee.org avatar

    I’m pretty sure he does understand. He just doesn’t care.

    Telorand,

    “I’m sorry, but I just don’t see how I can turn a profit on keeping you alive.” —JD Vance

    ganksy,
    @ganksy@lemmy.world avatar

    I think the problem is that he found a way to turn a profit

    Cipher22,

    I think part of what Europe a whole is missing is that the US as a general population is withdrawing, possibly even to pre-1940’s levels. If that happens, globalization as a whole is at risk.

    Riccosuave,
    @Riccosuave@lemmy.world avatar

    Says who? What “general population”? If you’re referring to the roughly 1/3 of this country that are either openly fascist, or fascist adjacent then it is on the rest of us to deliver crushing blows to their ideology. Nobody is coming to save us, and we must be willing to muster the courage of our convictions to defeat them. I don’t think they represent anything approaching a majority, but they are still incredibly dangerous.

    Finalsolo963,

    You see it on the left as anti-imperialism. Obviously not the same thing as the “America first” crowd, but the general sentiment that the US should not be as directly involved in the affairs of other countries has been on the rise for a long time and poll numbers bear that out

    Riccosuave, (edited )
    @Riccosuave@lemmy.world avatar

    I see your point, but the sentiment is still strong that America should be involved as a global leader, even in the data you provided. While that number has gone down, it still shows that roughly two thirds of the electorate do not want to embrace isolationism. However, I do think it matters what that participation in the world looks like, and like anything else there is a lot of nuance to that.

    gravitas_deficiency,

    That, or he cares, but in the wrong direction. Which is plausible, considering how much the GOP tends to align with shit Putin says these days.

    captainlezbian,

    JD Vance hates humanity.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • politics@lemmy.world
  • mdbf
  • DreamBathrooms
  • InstantRegret
  • magazineikmin
  • Youngstown
  • everett
  • cisconetworking
  • slotface
  • GTA5RPClips
  • rosin
  • thenastyranch
  • kavyap
  • tacticalgear
  • modclub
  • JUstTest
  • osvaldo12
  • Durango
  • khanakhh
  • anitta
  • provamag3
  • ngwrru68w68
  • cubers
  • tester
  • ethstaker
  • megavids
  • normalnudes
  • Leos
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •