Pro-Ukraine protests erupted in several corners of the USA after President Donald Trump exchanged heated words with Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskyy at the White House.
Hundreds of people gathered in New York, Los Angeles and Boston to express their support for Ukraine after the furious row in the Oval Office, reported BBC.
Protesters, who were seen holding pro-Ukraine signs, also lined up on a road in Waitsfield, Vermont, USA, where Vice President JD Vance went to spend a holiday with his family.
As per a report published in New York Post, JD Vance was forced to shift his family to an ‘undisclosed’ location amid protests.
Vance and his family were greeted by hundreds of outraged protesters lining the snow-covered streets while visiting Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield but were forced to cut their four-day trip short after seeing the intensity of the protests, the US newspaper reported.
According to reports, protesters displayed signs that labeled the US Vice President a ‘national disgrace’ and even accused him of being a “traitor” .
They asked him and his family to ‘go ski in Russia’, hinting at the recent shift of the US in its stance in the Ukraine crisis.
According to reports, the protests were planned earlier in the week but the intensity of the demonstrations increased after the White House spat between Trump, Vance and visiting Zelenskyy.
Governor’s Appeal
Vermont Republican Governor Phil Scott earlier issued a statement and urged people to be ‘respectful’ towards Vance and his family members.
“I welcome the Vice President and his family to Vermont and hope they enjoy their weekend here. It’s no surprise they chose Vermont, we’ve had a lot of snow this winter, which has been good for our economy,” the Governor said in a statement.
“And while we’ve all been doing a lot of shoveling and plowing, Vermonters know it’s part of a rugged and adventurous way of life that makes our winters worthwhile,” the statement said.
“I hope Vermonters remember the Vice President is here on a family trip with his young children and, while we may not always agree, we should be respectful,” the Governor said.
According to reports, counter-protests supporting Vance and Trump also occurred in Waitsfield.
Fiery Friday
According to video footage of the press appearance going viral, Zelenskyy was caught in a verbal spat with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
While Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful”, Trump said he is “gambling with World War Three”.
President Zelenskyy responded in equal measure, saying, “We are in our own country, and we have stayed strong all this time. We have even thanked you for it (your support)”.
While Zelenskyy left the meeting after the heated exchange, Trump said the Ukraine president can come back to the White House “when he is ready for peace.”
