Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday welcomed Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance’s position on U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine, after former President Donald Trump announced he would be his running mate.
“He is in favor of peace, he is in favor of ending the assistance that is being provided, and we can only welcome that, because that’s what we need, and the war will end if we stop pumping weapons into Ukraine,” Lavrov said at a news conference on Wednesday. Reuters.
Vance has repeatedly expressed concern about continued US military and financial support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and once said he “doesn’t care what happens to Ukraine.”
The Ohio Republican questioned whether the U.S. could continue its aid to Ukraine, arguing that the U.S. is not producing enough military equipment to maintain the level of aid currently being provided to Kiev.
According to Reuters, Lavrov said Russia was “ready to cooperate with any US leader chosen by the American people” as long as that leader was “willing to engage in fair and mutually respectful dialogue.”
Trump’s selection of Vance has raised alarms among Ukraine supporters who worry about the repercussions of the pick given his foreign policy views, and it is not yet clear how much influence Vance would have on foreign policy if Trump is re-elected in November.
Lavrov said Wednesday he believes there has been more dialogue between Russia and the White House under the Trump administration, as opposed to the Biden administration.
“The sanctions war started during President Trump’s time. It’s no exaggeration to say that Obama started it, but during President Trump’s time, economic and diplomatic sanctions were intensified. But during that period, there was a dialogue at the highest level between Washington and the United States. Now there is no such dialogue,” he said. Translated from CNN.
Trump, who has touted his friendlier relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly claimed that if he were president he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine in just 24 hours.
