Zelensky criticized Vice President JD Vance on April 29 for publicly celebrating the Trump administration's halt to direct U.S. military aid to Ukraine, calling the policy a de facto help to Russia. Vance has stated he's 'proud' of the decision to stop weapons transfers while allowing Europe to purchase them independently — a shift that transfers the financial and logistical burden to allied nations. The exchange reflects a fundamental disagreement between the White House and Ukraine's government over whether reducing U.S. support strengthens or weakens American security interests, with the administration framing it as burden-sharing and Zelensky arguing it undermines resistance to Russian aggression.