They take off when some little dictator throws a tantrum": Vance suddenly blamed Putin for rising gas prices US Vice President J. De Vance said that after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, gas prices rose sharply and then were significantly higher than now. "They took off in 1979. They took off in 2001 and 2007. Prices skyrocket every time some little dictator decides to throw a tantrum," Vance said. Pravda Gershchenko / Send content / X / Bluesky / Telegram / Threads.