US Vice President JD Vance, at a bilateral assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, mentioned he needs to “preserve the optionality” for these working to barter an finish to the conflict, and mentioned the purpose is for a “durable, lasting peace.”
“We had a number of fruitful conversations and a number of things to follow up and work on,” Vance instructed reporters sitting immediately throughout from Zelensky in Germany.
“Fundamentally, the goal is as President (Donald) Trump outlined it: We want the war to come to a close. We want the killing to stop, but we want to achieve a durable, lasting peace, not the kind of peace that’s going to have eastern Europe in conflict just a couple years down the road,” he mentioned.
Asked how it will transfer ahead if Ukraine will not be prepared to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the desk, Vance was reluctant to talk to the parameters of negotiations.
“It’s important for us to get together and start to have the conversations that are going to be necessary to bring this thing to a close. That’s all I’m going to say for now, because I want to preserve the optionality here for the negotiators and our respective teams to bring this thing to a responsible close,” Vance mentioned.
Some background: Vance’s remarks come amid an air of uncertainty and anxiety which has enveloped Europe up to now week after Trump suggested Ukraine “may be Russian someday,” shortly earlier than asserting that peace negotiations would start instantly after holding a telephone name with Putin.
Trump’s announcement sparked fears that a “dirty deal” could also be struck with Putin to finish the conflict on phrases favorable to Moscow with out Kyiv’s involvement.
But Vance warned earlier on Thursday the US might hit Russia with financial and navy “tools of leverage” if Moscow doesn’t negotiate a peace deal in good religion.