US Vice President J.D. Vance warned Russia of potential consequences if it refuses a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict. According to him, the option of using "economic and military" pressure remains on the table. His remarks suggest that Washington is considering a scenario in which US troops could be deployed to Ukrainian territory.
However, Vance also emphasized that the administration of US President Donald Trump wanted to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow could achieve more at the negotiating table than on the battlefield.
Vance noted that it was too early to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine or specific territorial changes. The outcome will depend on the progress of peace talks.
“There are many formulations, configurations,” he stated, adding that the US is “concerned about Ukraine’s sovereign independence."
"I think a deal will emerge that will shock a lot of people (...) He [Trump] will say: ‘Everything is on the table, let’s negotiate,'" Vice President of the US J.D. Vance said.
More of what J.D. Vance said:
During a press conference following his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump also said it was premature to discuss territorial concessions.
“As for negotiations, it’s too early to say what will happen. Maybe Russia will concede a lot, maybe not—it all depends on what unfolds,” he stated.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Ukraine’s demand to return to its 2014 borders unrealistic.
“The US does not believe that returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders is realistic,” he said, adding that the Trump administration does not see Ukraine’s NATO membership as part of the peace plan.
The The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claimed that Trump was effectively excluding Kyiv both as a direct party to the negotiations and as a partner. This conclusion was drawn after Trump’s calls with both the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
The publication highlighted that Trump is handling negotiations with Putin and Russia differently than with other partners—offering concessions to the Russian leader "without getting anything in return" and only informing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky afterward.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s readiness to engage in negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized that Russia had repeatedly stated its willingness to pursue peace through political and diplomatic means.
"Putin has repeatedly expressed our readiness to engage in peace negotiations and achieve our objectives precisely through political and diplomatic means," Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the Russian President said.
Peskov added that this position was reaffirmed during the phone conversation between Russian and US presidents.