VP Vance Backs Trump’s Talks with Russia to End Ukraine War
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has defended President Donald Trump’s negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying they could help bring peace to Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Vance spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, arguing that talking to Russia is necessary to end the conflict. “How can you end the war without talking to Russia?” he asked.
Reuters reports that a U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met with Russian officials in Riyadh earlier this week to discuss ending the war.
However, Ukraine was not included in the talks, which upset Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. This has led to a war of words between Trump and Zelenskiy, with Trump calling Zelenskiy a “dictator” and falsely claiming Ukraine started the war. Zelenskiy accused Trump of spreading Russian disinformation.
Vance avoided addressing these specific criticisms during his speech but praised Trump as “an effective negotiator” who is open to all options.
He told the crowd that Trump’s efforts could bring peace to Europe for the first time in three years. “I really believe we’re on the cusp of peace,” Vance said, according to Reuters.
The Vice President also touched on his recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he criticized European leaders for not doing enough to control migration.
While his comments drew backlash in Europe, they were well-received at CPAC, where he received a standing ovation.
Vance emphasized that Trump wants strong alliances with Europe but believes these relationships depend on shared values and stronger societies.
On the domestic front, Vance dismissed criticism from Democrats about the Trump administration’s handling of inflation.
He argued that Trump has only been in office for a month and needs more time to address economic challenges. “There’s a lot more we can do, but I think we’ve got a pretty good start,” he said, as reported by Reuters.
Vance’s remarks highlight the Trump administration’s focus on ending the Ukraine war through direct talks with Russia, even if it means sidelining Ukraine in the process.
While this approach has sparked controversy, Vance and Trump believe it could lead to a breakthrough.
However, as Reuters notes, the exclusion of Ukraine and the ongoing tensions between Trump and Zelenskiy raise questions about whether this strategy will succeed.
For now, the world watches closely as the U.S. pushes for peace in a conflict that has dragged on for years.
Credit: Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/vp-vance-defends-trump-negotiations-with-russia-ukraine-2025-02-20