Meeting Between US and Ukraine Leaders Aims to De-Escalate Tensions and Find Peaceful Solution

JD Vance is an American author, investor, military veteran, and politician who currently serves as the Vice President of the United States, beginning his term in January 2025. Born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, Vance overcame a challenging childhood marked by financial hardship, family instability, and his mother’s addiction, with significant support from his grandmother. After graduating from Middletown High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving four years including a tour in Iraq, where he earned the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal[1][2][5]. Following military service, Vance utilized the GI Bill to attend Ohio State University and later earned a law degree from Yale Law School. He then worked as a venture capitalist and gained national recognition as the author of the bestselling memoir *Hillbilly Elegy* (2016), which highlighted the struggles of working-class Americans in the Appalachian region and the Rust Belt[1][3]. Vance entered politics as a Republican and won the U.S. Senate seat for Ohio in 2022, succeeding Rob Portman. He was sworn in on January 3, 2023, becoming the first Ohio senator without prior political experience since John Glenn in 1974. During his Senate tenure, he was active on several committees, focused on issues like border security, American manufacturing, and working-class prosperity, and engaged in bipartisan efforts despite occasional conflicts with fellow Republicans[2][4][5]. Vance resigned from the Senate on January 10, 2025, shortly before assuming the vice presidency. In the 2024 presidential election, Vance was selected by Donald Trump as his running mate and, after a narrow victory in the general election, became the 50th Vice President of the United States. His political career is noted for his advocacy on behalf of working-class Americans, his military background, and his role in contemporary Republican politics[3][4][5].

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, is a Ukrainian politician and former entertainer. He is the sixth president of Ukraine, having taken office in 2019. Before entering politics, Zelenskyy was a well-known comedian, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and director. He graduated with a law degree from Kyiv National Economic University in 2000 but never practiced law. Instead, he co-founded the production company Kvartal 95, which produced films, cartoons, and TV shows, including the popular series "Servant of the People," where he played a fictional Ukrainian president. Zelenskyy's political career began when he announced his candidacy for the 2019 presidential election on New Year's Eve in 2018. He positioned himself as an anti-establishment and anti-corruption figure, which resonated with the public. He won the election with a landslide victory of 73.23% in the second round, defeating incumbent President Petro Poroshenko. Upon taking office, Zelenskyy dissolved the Verkhovna Rada and called for snap elections, which resulted in his party, Servant of the People, gaining an absolute majority in parliament. As president, Zelenskyy has faced significant challenges, including the ongoing conflict with Russia. His leadership during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has made him a global figure of resistance. He has been recognized for his efforts, including being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2022. Zelenskyy is married to Olena Zelenska and has two children. His presidency has been marked by a strong focus on national unity and international diplomacy to secure support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.