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US Vice President JD Vance has warned that Washington could impose sanctions and even consider military action against Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a peace deal ensuring Ukraine’s long-term independence. The statement, reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, underscores Trump’s administration’s firm stance on the ongoing conflict.
“There are economic tools of leverage, there are, of course, military tools of leverage,” Vance said in an interview with the newspaper. “There are any number of formulations, of configurations, but we do care about Ukraine having sovereign independence.”
Vance’s remarks follow discussions between US President Donald Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, as Trump directed officials to initiate talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year-long war. The move has raised concerns in Kyiv, with some Ukrainians fearing that Trump may compromise their interests in negotiations with Russia.
The phone calls came shortly after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Ukraine’s military allies in Brussels that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders—before Russia annexed Crimea—was unrealistic. He also stated that NATO membership for Kyiv was not considered part of a resolution to the conflict.
Despite the uncertainty, Trump assured reporters at the White House that Ukraine would be directly involved in any peace negotiations. However, Ukrainian officials remained cautious, saying it was premature to engage in talks with Moscow.
Vance hinted at a significant shift in US policy, suggesting that a deal might emerge that would surprise many. “I think there is a deal that is going to come out of this that’s going to shock a lot of people,” he said.
While emphasising that Trump is open to negotiations, Vance acknowledged the possibility of policy adjustments based on how the talks progress. “President Trump could say, ‘Look, we don’t want this thing, we might not like this thing, but we’re willing to put it back on the table if the Russians aren’t being good negotiating partners, or there are things that are very important to Ukrainians that we might want to take off the table,’” he added.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community remains watchful of how the negotiations will unfold and whether they will lead to a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Melissa Enoch
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