WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance lambasted Russia Wednesday, saying the Kremlin was “asking for too much” in exchange for ending its 38-month-old invasion of Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t say that the Russians are uninterested in bringing this thing to a resolution,” the VP said at an event put on by the organizers of the annual Munich Security Conference.
“What I would say is, right now, the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much.”
The Trump administration has expressed frustration with both Ukraine and Russia for their unwillingness to meet face-to-face to discuss an end to Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the end of the Second World War — but Vance’s comments represent some of the most direct criticism of Moscow by a White House official since the 47th president took office.
“We think it’s probably impossible for us to mediate this entirely without at least some direct negotiation between the two, and so that’s what we focus on,” Vance added.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin three times, while retired Gen. Keith Kellogg has focused his efforts on relations with Kyiv.
Representatives from both governments have met with US officials in Saudi Arabia though never in the same room.
Russia has made clear they want Ukraine to agree to never be in NATO, to recognize the annexation of Crimea and large parts of Kyiv’s eastern territories, have no European peacekeepers on Ukrainian territory, and have Ukraine vow to allow the Russian language — among other requests.
