WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice President JD Vance said the US could walk away from ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia if they do not come to a final agreement soon. He also outlined some of the ceasefire terms, but recent comments by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicates those terms will not work out.
“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the US to walk away from this process,” said the Vice President during an overseas trip.
“The current lines, somewhere close to them, is where you’re ultimately going to draw the new lines in the conflict,” said the Vice President. “Now of course that means the Ukrainians and the Russians are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own. There’s going to have to be some territorial swaps, so I wouldn’t say the exact lines, but we want the killing to stop, and the only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, to freeze this thing, and to get on with the business of building a better Russia and a better Ukraine.”
The US is also proposing that Ukraine should not join NATO as part of the ceasefire agreement, a stark reversal from the previous administration’s vision for Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated they do not want Ukraine to join NATO.
The Vice President’s comments are a day after Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said they will not give up any of their territory as part of the agreements. A meeting between the US, Ukraine and European allies was pared down this week after Secretary Marco Rubio backed out and sent an envoy in his place. The White House said they’re sending an envoy to Moscow this week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy said Russia continues to strike their country, including civilian targets which he says violates the previous ceasefire agreement from a month ago. He said the first step in a long-term ceasefire agreement is to stop the attacks.
“Peace begins in silence and only when there is genuine silence, and when people trust the entire negotiation process, can the fundamental issues begin to be resolved,” said Zelenskyy.
