Vice President Pence: The U.S. will send troops to Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia if it does not agree to a peaceful settlement.
Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday that the U.S. will impose sanctions on Moscow and may consider military actions if Putin does not agree to a peace deal with Ukraine that ensures long-term security for Kyiv.
He made this comment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Vance pointed out that the option of sending American troops to Ukraine, should Moscow fail to negotiate "in good faith," remains "on the table." His remarks were notably more assertive than those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said during a meeting of the contact group in the "Ramstein" format on Wednesday that the U.S. would not be sending troops under any circumstances.
Vice President Vance mentioned that the U.S. is exploring all possible military and economic options if Russia refuses to engage in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
In a conversation with journalists, JD Vance also remarked that the negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could lead to a "deal that shocks many."
However, he clarified that it is currently "too early to say" which Ukrainian territories Russia will continue to control and what security guarantees the U.S. and other Western allies can offer Ukraine.
"There are numerous formulations and configurations, but we care about Ukraine's sovereign independence," he stated.
Furthermore, the Vice President suggested rebooting relations with Russia, noting that isolation makes the country a "younger brother" to China.
Vance is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich on Friday.
Background. Recall that the new Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, at the meeting of the contact group in the "Ramstein" format stated that Europe must take responsibility for maintaining peace on the continent and provide the majority of assistance to Ukraine, as the U.S. prefers to shift focus to addressing its own security issues at home.