Vance calls out Russia for ‘asking for too much’ to end Ukraine invasion
WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance lambasted Russia on 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 White House has expressed frustration with both Ukraine and Russia for their unwillingness to come to a rapid deal to 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.
Trump echoed Vance’s remarks in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon, telling reporters that “we are getting to a point where some decisions are going to have to be made.”
Vance added that Trump’s approach to the war was born of “strategic realism” and trying to understand where both sides are coming from, to the irritation of European allies who do not want Russia’s views represented.
The VP also confirmed the administration is looking to Ukraine and Russia to have in-person talks.
“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,” he said, noting that the US does want to be involved.
The next step, Vance said, is to have Ukraine and Russia agree “to some basic guidelines for sitting down and talking to one another.”
Trump 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 also met with US officials in Saudi Arabia, though never in the same room.
Russia has made clear it wants 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.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has stressed Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from Western allies so Russia does not invade again.
“I’m not happy about it,” Trump said Wednesday afternoon of the stalemate.
Vance made waves when he addressed the Munich Security Conference in February, criticizing European leaders for implementing censorship measures and arguing that free speech was the largest issue on the continent — not the threat of Russia or China.
On Wednesday, the VP took a more measured approach, saying the US and Europe are “on the same civilizational team” — but including a warning that change was coming.
“All of us, frankly, on both sides of the Atlantic, have gotten a bit too comfortable with the security posture of the last 20 years,” he said, “and frankly, that security posture is not adequate to meet the challenges of the next 20 years.”
