Vice President JD Vance on Thursday criticized Russia’s opening demands in the ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations, saying the Kremlin is requesting territory it hasn’t even captured, a stance that reflects growing frustration within the White House over Moscow’s approach, Politico reported.
Vance, speaking during an interview on Fox News, offered rare insight into the tone and content of the negotiations, highlighting what he described as Russia’s unrealistic expectations in their initial proposal.
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“Russia can’t expect to be given territory that they haven’t even conquered yet,” the vice president told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. “And that’s one of the things that they’ve put down in that initial peace plan.”
Vance acknowledged that initial offers in diplomatic negotiations often overshoot the mark but said Russia’s starting point still raised concerns about the sincerity of its intentions.
“We knew that the Russians’ first offer would be too much, we knew that they would ask for more than was reasonable to give, that’s how negotiations often work,” Vance explained. “I’m not bothered by that. What would bother me is if we conclude that the Russians are not engaging in the negotiation in good faith.”
Should Moscow prove unwilling to negotiate earnestly, Vance made clear that the Biden administration is ready to reconsider its role in facilitating talks. In his words: “What would bother me is if we conclude that the Russians are not engaging in the negotiation in good faith.”
This latest criticism came just a day after Vance addressed the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, where he similarly warned that Russia’s current posture in the peace process is untenable.
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“Russia was asking for too much,” Vance said at the event, according to Politico. He noted that if any peace deal is to move forward, Moscow will likely be required to make significant concessions.
The comments signal a more pointed stance from the White House amid an increasingly stagnant conflict and fragile diplomatic efforts. While both sides remain formally engaged in dialogue, the gulf between their positions appears wide, especially if Russia continues to insist on control over territory it does not hold militarily.
As the Biden administration continues to support Ukraine both militarily and diplomatically, the vice president’s remarks reflect a growing impatience in Washington with what officials view as Moscow’s bad-faith negotiating tactics.
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