Ohio’s junior Senator J.D. Vance has sparked concerns among Ohioans with ties to Ukraine due to his previous statements about not caring about the country’s fate. This unease has only intensified now that former President Donald Trump has chosen Vance as his running mate. With around 100,000 Ohioans having connections to Ukraine, many are worried about Vance’s stance on the ongoing conflict in the region.
Joe Cimperman, the president and CEO of Global Cleveland, expressed the fear and dread felt by those with ties to Eastern European countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. He highlighted the historical trauma experienced by communities like Slovenian, Croatian, Polish, and others who lived under the Iron Curtain. Cimperman also noted that Ohio receives federal Ukrainian aid money for producing weaponry like Abrams tanks.
Despite attempts from the Ukrainian community in Ohio to engage with Vance on the issue, he has not responded to requests for a meeting. Andy Fedynsky, from the Ukrainian Museum Archives in Cleveland, remains hopeful that Vance may change his views on Ukraine now that he is in a prominent position. However, he acknowledged disappointment in Vance’s departure from the pro-Ukraine stance of his predecessor, Senator Rob Portman.
Portman, who co-chaired the Senate’s Ukraine caucus, had visited Ukraine multiple times and was well-versed in the region’s politics. The shift in approach from Portman to Vance has left many in the Ohio Ukrainian community concerned about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. Vance’s office declined to provide a comment on the matter.
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