Trump’s former vice president says peace in Ukraine is not guaranteed.
In his latest remarks, the US vice president painted a bleak picture of the reality of the Russia-Ukraine war, saying he was not sure that the war would ultimately end peacefully.
He added, “We will continue to try to negotiate. I think we have made some progress, but I cannot say with certainty at this time that we will reach a peaceful resolution.”
Vance stressed that as much as there is a possibility of reaching an agreement, there is also a possibility that no agreement will be reached.
The US vice president added, “The main differences and fundamental issues between the two sides have not yet been resolved; one of the most important differences is over territory. At the same time, control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the fate of ethnic Russians in Ukraine and Ukrainians living in Russian-controlled areas, as well as how to rebuild Ukraine after the war, are other issues that need to be resolved between the sides.”
Vance noted that Kiev considers Moscow’s control of the Donbass region “a major security problem,” but that the Ukrainian military is likely to “lose” the region if the war continues.
Politico, analyzing the US vice president’s remarks, noted that these are currently one of the most pessimistic assessments of the prospects for peace in Ukraine by a senior US official.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy for Ukraine, had previously expressed more optimistic views on the issue; Witkoff described the meetings as “constructive and useful” after recent talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Miami.
He stressed that negotiations would continue and that Russia and Ukraine were “committed” to achieving peace.
US President Donald Trump also said last week, “We are closer to peace than ever before.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also repeatedly announced Russia’s conditions for establishing peace, namely Ukraine’s non-joining of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), holding elections in Ukraine to replace the country’s president, and recognizing the Russian language as a protected language in Ukraine.