Trump's deputy JD Vance is doing new tones at a conference: Russia is too much concerned with a view of any Ukraine peace solution. On the other hand, Vance calls for understanding for Moscow – and direct conversations.
The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, described the Russian conditions for the end of the Ukraine War as inappropriate. “The Russians are currently making a number of demands,” said Vance at an event at an event at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in the US capital Washington. “We think they ask too much.”
On the other hand, the deputy of US President Donald Trump said that it was important to understand the perspective of the Kremlin. “You don't have to agree with the Russian justification for the war.”
Both Trump and he “had comprehensively criticized the invasion,” said Vance. But you have to “try to understand what the motives of the other side are.” He would not say that the Russian side is not interested in a solution, says Vance.
Wolfgang Ischinger (left) – ex -chairman of the Munich Security Conference – is now the president of the associated board of trustees.
“Next big step”
The Republican said that there is currently a large gap between Ukraine and Russia. The goal must be to bridge them through conversations. The United States is of course “happy” to participate in such conversations, said the 40-year-old. However, it is important “that the Russians and the Ukrainians start talking to each other”. That is “the next big step” on the way to a ceasefire.
Without at least some direct conversations between the two sides, it is “almost impossible” for the United States, said Vance. In April, the Foreign Minister of his government, Marco Rubio, had already threatened to end the US mediation efforts.
In the panel discussion with long-time MSC chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, Vance defended the procedure of his president: Trump follows a “strategic realism”.
