Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism regarding the potential for a peace deal in Ukraine during a meeting in Washington hosted by the Munich Security Conference. Vance indicated that Russia's initial peace offer was excessive, although he did not specify the terms presented by Moscow. His comments contrasted with former President Donald Trump's recent skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the conflict that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.
During the meeting, Vance stated, "I wouldn’t say that the Russians are uninterested in bringing this thing to a resolution. What I would say is right now: the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much." Trump's response to Vance's remarks suggested he might not be fully briefed, as he noted, "Well, it’s possible that’s right," while expressing concern about the ongoing peace efforts.
Vance refrained from reiterating previous criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which had surfaced during a heated exchange in the Oval Office earlier this year. Instead, he commended Ukraine's willingness to consider a 30-day ceasefire but pointed out that Russia had rejected that notion. He called for more direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian leaders to pave the way for a long-term resolution to the conflict. "What the Russians have said is, 'A 30-day ceasefire is not in our strategic interests,'" Vance clarified, emphasizing the need to focus on a sustainable settlement rather than temporary pauses in hostilities.
Vance's remarks were made following his earlier appearance at the Munich Security Conference's summit in Germany, where he had stirred controversy by stating that free speech was "in retreat" in Europe. He addressed this issue again, noting that his comments were equally applicable to the United States under Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. "It’s not 'Europe bad, America good.' It’s that I think that both Europe and the United States, we got a little bit off track, and I encourage us all to get back on track together," he explained.
On regional tensions in the Middle East, Vance did not provide specific timelines for upcoming discussions between the U.S. and Iran about its nuclear program. He criticized the inspection and enforcement provisions of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal established under former President Barack Obama, labeling them "incredibly weak" and suggesting they allowed Iran to continue advancing toward nuclear capability unchecked. He asserted that a new agreement should aim to reintegrate Iran into the global economy while entirely halting any prospects for the nation to develop nuclear weapons. "We think that there is a deal here that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy, that would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they can get a nuclear weapon. And that’s what we’re negotiating toward," Vance stated.
