US Pressures Both Russia and Europe on Ukraine

AFP | Washington
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Vice President JD Vance stated yesterday that the United States is ready to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, ahead of an upcoming meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vance emphasized the importance of Ukraine reaching a unified position with the US and Europe on how to bring the conflict to an end.

Vance also addressed concerns from European nations about potentially being excluded from talks, assuring them that they should certainly be involved in negotiations. However, he also stressed that Europe must contribute more to its own defense. “The president is not going to go into this with blinders on,” Vance told the Wall Street Journal. “He’s going to say, ‘Everything is on the table, let’s make a deal.’”

Zelensky, speaking before his meeting with Vance in Munich, expressed readiness for direct talks with Russia if there was a shared understanding with the US and its allies on how to address the situation. “We are ready for any conversations with America and our allies,” Zelensky stated. “If they provide us with specific answers to specific requests from us and a common understanding of the dangerous Putin, then, with our unified understanding, we will be ready to talk with the Russians.”

Despite these assurances, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued to stress that America’s European NATO partners would need to do more to ensure their own defense and secure a lasting peace for Ukraine.