Vice President JD Vance has expressed confidence in the ability of the United States to help facilitate an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’, Vance commented on recent developments, including a missile strike in western Ukraine that targeted a factory owned by a U.S.-based company.
When asked about his feelings regarding the missile strike that resulted in injuries to several workers, Vance refrained from expressing anger at the event itself.
Instead, he shifted the focus to his criticism of President Joe Biden’s approach to the conflict.
“I don’t like it,” he stated regarding the missile strike, emphasizing that in the context of war, efforts should be directed towards stopping the violence.
He pointed out that under Trump’s administration, significant pressure had been applied to Russia in a way that he believes Biden had failed to do during his tenure.
Vance remarked, “What I’m enraged by is the continuation of the war.”
President Donald Trump, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, shared that he was not pleased about the missile strikes and indicated that a peace deal between the nations might be weeks away.
“I think over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go,” Trump said following his discussions.
During the NBC interview, Vance downplayed the strike and other recent issues as long-term obstacles to peace efforts.
He believes there is still significant room for negotiation, stating, “We’re going to eventually be successful, or we’ll hit a brick wall.”
Vance added, “If we hit a brick wall, then we’re going to continue this process of negotiation, of applying leverage, and this is the energetic diplomacy that’s going to bring this war to a close.”
Host Kristen Welker pushed for clarification on what pressure the U.S. could exert on Russia without imposing new sanctions.
Vance responded by citing Trump’s previous actions that included applying aggressive economic measures, such as secondary tariffs on India, aimed at curbing Russia’s oil wealth.
When questioned about the possibility of U.S. troops being sent to enforce a peace deal, Vance reaffirmed Trump’s position against military involvement.
“The president has been very clear,” he noted. “There are not going to be boots on the ground in Ukraine. But we are going to continue to play an active role in trying to ensure that the Ukrainians have the security guarantees and the confidence they need to stop the war on their end and the Russians feel like they can bring the war to a conclusion on their end.”
This interview aired during a time of rising tensions surrounding the peace negotiations.
On the same day, Russia’s top diplomat indicated that no meetings had been scheduled between Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which raised questions about Trump’s capability to act as a mediator.
Vance maintained optimism, suggesting that he does not believe Russia is merely stalling negotiations.
He claimed, “I think the Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in 3 ½ years of this conflict. They’ve actually been willing to be flexible on some of their core demands.”
He also emphasized that Trump has enhanced efforts towards finding an amicable solution, stating, “because this war is not in anyone’s interest. It’s not in Europe or the United States’ interest.”
Acknowledging the various setbacks since Trump’s meeting with Putin, Vance insisted on the necessity of persistence in negotiations.
“There are hills and valleys to the negotiations,” Vance explained. “We sometimes feel like we’ve made great progress with the Russians, and sometimes, as the president has said, he’s been very frustrated with the Russians.”
He expressed hope for continued progress, asserting that the ultimate decision on ceasing hostilities rests with finding common ground between Russia and Ukraine.
Despite Putin’s past refusals of ceasefire proposals—including Trump’s prior suggestions—Vance mentioned that Russia has shown some willingness to recognize Ukraine’s territorial integrity post-conflict.
“Have they made every concession? Of course they haven’t,” he admitted. “Should they have started the war? Of course they shouldn’t have, but we’re making progress.”
Regarding the ongoing discussions about the extent of Russia’s role in establishing security guarantees for Ukraine, Vance suggested a misunderstanding.
He clarified, “First of all, we’re not talking about security guarantees until after the war has come to a close. And of course, the Russians are going to be a part of the conversation about bringing that war to a close.”
Aside from foreign policy, Vance’s interview touched on domestic matters as well, specifically the congressional map changes being implemented by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives.
These changes could potentially strengthen the GOP’s majority by as many as five seats and have led to rising tensions, particularly against Democrats in California who are planning retaliatory actions.
Vance defended the GOP’s actions, saying, “All we’re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair on a national scale.”
He pointed out that Democrats have engaged in aggressive gerrymandering in their states, claiming that the GOP is seeking to counteract that trend.
When asked about his political future and whether he envisions himself as a successor to Trump in 2028, Vance chose to remain focused on his current role.
“I see myself as a vice president who’s trying to do a good job for the American people,” he expressed. “If I do a good job, and if the president continues to be successful, as I know that he will be, the politics will take care of itself.”
He reiterated that Trump’s primary focus is on delivering results for the American public, a direction Vance is committed to following.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine progresses, the world watches closely to see if Vance’s optimism will translate into real diplomatic progress.
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