Vance Urges Zelensky to Halt Black Sea Drone Strikes Amid U.S. Pressure

According to one outlet's report, Vice President J.D. Vance contacted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 31, urging him to stop drone attacks on oil-carrying ships in the Black Sea because the actions were driving up gasoline prices and damaging President Donald Trump’s standing. Vance’s appeal was notable given his long-standing hostility toward Ukraine and his role in a 2025 Oval Office confrontation that resulted in a cutback of U.S. military aid.

Zelensky obliged to the secret request, illustrating how U.S. leaders seek allied cooperation even when they have previously disparaged those partners. The episode coincides with Trump’s indecision on granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles, after initially promising support. Broader concerns include NATO members’ reluctance to back a potential U.S. war on Iran and a shift among many allies toward closer ties with China, as shown by recent Pew Research Center polling. The piece also notes internal Pentagon debates, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth curtailing officer education programs while a senior Central Command officer solicited unconventional ideas to pressure Iran.