JD Vance's Family Trip To Vermont Marred By Hundreds Of Pro-Ukrainian Protestors | WATCH

After the unprecedented Oval Office confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US Vice-President JD Vance embarked on a family ski holiday in Vermont, where he was met by demonstrators holding pro-Ukraine placards.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Waitsfield, Vermont, on Saturday morning to oppose the vice-president's visit to the Republican-governed state.

They carried signs reading "International embarrassment" and "Vermont stands with Ukraine", while many waved Ukrainian flags.

Due to the demonstration, the Vance family was forced to relocate to an undisclosed location instead of their planned ski resort, according to American media reports.

A protest against the Trump-Vance administration had already been organised in Waitsfield earlier in the week-before the US president and vice-president's clash with Zelensky in the Oval Office-but additional demonstrators joined after witnessing the tense exchange, The Guardian reported.

Protesters holding placards referencing the dispute and Russia's war with Ukraine stated that they were motivated to take part in the demonstration after watching Vance and Trump's heated White House meeting with Zelensky on Friday.

"After what he did yesterday, he crossed the line," protester Cori Giroux told Vermont Public Radio.

This occurred despite Republican Governor Phil Scott-who has refused to vote for Trump in any of his three presidential campaigns-urging Vermonters to be respectful towards Vance and his family during their visit.

"Please join me in welcoming them to Vermont and hoping they have an opportunity to experience what makes our state, and Vermonters, so special," he said in a statement on Thursday.

On Friday, Vance initiated a confrontation with Zelensky before President Trump joined the debate during a White House meeting that had been amicable until the vice-president spoke up to praise Trump for pursuing what he termed a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine-Russia war.

"What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about?" asked Zelensky, who has been critical of direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow. "What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country," Vance retorted, sharply criticising Zelensky.

"Mr President, with respect, I think it's inappropriate for you to come into the Oval Office and attempt to debate this in front of the American media," he added.

Vance also accused the Ukrainian leader of having campaigned on behalf of the Democrats during the 2024 presidential election. Zelensky had visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, last September and met Trump's opponent, Kamala Harris, at the White House.