US Vice President JD Vance reaffirmed the Trump administration's unwavering support for Ukrainian sovereignty while expressing concerns about Russia’s demands during ongoing peace negotiations. Vance offered a candid assessment of the talks and suggested that the US might scale back its role as lead negotiator if Russia’s engagement proves insincere.

"We obviously want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country," Vance emphasized, underscoring the administration’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity amidst the ongoing conflict, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

However, he acknowledged the complex nature of diplomatic negotiations, particularly when dealing with Russia. "We knew that the Russians' first offer would be too much. We knew that they would ask for more than was reasonable to give. That's how negotiations often work. I'm not bothered by that," he said.

Vance was clear, however, on what would shift the US stance: "What would bother me is if we conclude that the Russians are not engaging in the negotiation in good faith. And if that happens, yeah, we're [going to] walk away," he warned, signaling that the US would not remain involved in peace talks if Russia proves to be intransigent or dishonest.

Despite Russia’s recent rejection of a ceasefire proposal, Vance adopted a cautiously optimistic view of the peace process. "I actually think it’s progress that they’re even talking," he stated, highlighting the importance of dialogue in conflict resolution. "We’re putting concrete peace plans on the table."

Vance also took aim at Russia’s territorial demands, asserting that Moscow cannot expect to gain land it has not even successfully captured. "We knew that Russia would ask for too much because Russia's perception of the war is that on the ground, they're winning," he explained. "And of course, the Ukrainians would like to do a cease-fire in part because things have not been going so well for the Ukrainians the last few months."

His comments came amid growing international attention on the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has seen significant territorial shifts and mounting casualties. Vance’s remarks reflected the US administration's broader strategy of maintaining support for Ukraine while pushing for realistic, tangible peace solutions.

"And our attitude is: we don't want Ukraine to collapse. We obviously want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country, but Russia can't expect to be given territory that they haven't even conquered yet," Vance concluded, reiterating the US stance that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

By Vafa Guliyeva

Source: caliber.az