Vice President JD Vance remarked that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made some concessions during his discussions with President Trump regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“They seem to understand they can’t just install a puppet government in Kiev, and they’ve recognized that Ukraine’s territorial integrity requires some security guarantees,” Vance mentioned in an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this past Sunday.
When asked about the potential for Ukraine to relinquish territory to Russia, Vance seemed to hesitate about whether such actions could send a message to nations like China concerning Taiwan, or if it would be viewed as rewarding Russian aggression.
“Historically, wars conclude through negotiations. Look back at World War II—every significant conflict has reached some form of compromise,” he explained, emphasizing that it is ultimately Ukraine’s choice regarding any land they may concede.
He compared the situation to how Germany and Japan surrendered unconditionally in World War II, after which there was a decision regarding land reconciliation.
However, during the same period, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in an earlier press conference that Putin has set additional conditions for direct talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, labeling Zelensky as “illegal” in his role as leader.
Russia has indicated it’s open to discussions about Ukraine’s security guarantees but criticized European leaders for considering meetings with Trump. Moscow insists that Ukraine must first abandon its commitment to safeguard itself from future Russian incursions.
The White House has alleged that Trump initiated conflict with Russia during discussions with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, while the Kremlin insists that a summit between Putin and Zelensky can only proceed after preliminary peace agreements are in place.
Lavrov remarked that Trump must lay out a “presidential agenda” before a bilateral summit can happen, even as Trump has expressed willingness to facilitate this meeting soon.
This agenda reportedly includes a condition that Ukraine will renounce joining NATO, and Zelensky has cancelled legislation that restricted the use of Russian as an official language.
On Friday, Trump stated he aims to bring both Russia and Ukraine together for discussions but expressed frustration after Russian missiles targeted American companies in Ukraine, which could lead to more sanctions against Moscow.
