Vance Says Russia Demands ‘Too Much’ in Ukraine Peace Talks

Vice President JD Vance made it clear on Wednesday that the Trump administration believes Russia is “asking for too much” in peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking during a Q&A at the Munich Security Conference, Vance offered a rare glimpse into the current White House strategy, which is pushing for a long-term resolution instead of short-term optics.

“We think they’re asking for too much,” Vance said, referring to Russia’s list of demands. “Obviously, the United States is happy to participate in those conversations, but it’s very important for the Russians and Ukrainians to start talking to one another.”

After months of trying to broker a ceasefire, the Trump administration is now urging direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, believing that any real solution must come from both sides not just U.S. mediation.

• Russia’s demands reportedly include Ukraine permanently shelving its NATO aspirations and acknowledging Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

• Ukraine continues to push for NATO membership, a position President Trump dismissed in February, saying Ukraine should “forget about” joining the alliance.

“We’ve tried to move beyond the obsession with a 30-day ceasefire and more on what the long-term settlement would look like,” Vance said. “And we’ve tried to consistently advance the ball.”

While Joe Biden poured billions into Ukraine with no endgame, Trump’s team has chosen a more pragmatic path, focused on diplomacy, national interest, and a long-term settlement that avoids endless foreign entanglements.

Last week, the U.S. signed a key minerals agreement with Ukraine, giving America access to vital resources like natural gas, aluminum, and graphite, while ensuring continued military assistance. The deal sparked outrage in Moscow, where Putin’s regime mocked Trump and claimed Ukraine “is about to disappear.”

But the truth is, Russia is stalling, hoping to drag out the war until Western support crumbles. Trump and Vance aren’t playing that game.

• Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has now met with Putin three times.

• The White House has reframed the peace push to focus less on temporary ceasefires and more on defining a sustainable post-war reality.

• America’s role has shifted from referee to realist demanding both sides sit down and face facts.

This is a far cry from the weak-kneed diplomacy of the past. Trump’s team understands that you don’t end a war with hashtags and soundbites. You end it by cutting through the fantasy and forcing accountability.

“We would like both the Russians and the Ukrainians to actually agree on some basic guidelines for sitting down and talking to one another,” Vance said.

The path to peace will not be easy but it will be on America’s terms, not Putin’s.

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