Vice President JD Vance has warned that Russia could face more sanctions and even “military tools” if it refuses to agree a deal ensuring Ukraine‘s long-term independence.
The comments to The Wall Street Journal ahead of a major security conference in Munich on Friday came amid growing alarm across Europe after what President Donald Trump described as a “lengthy and highly productive” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s comments about ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine prompted fears in Kyiv and across Europe that they were being shut out of negotiations, and deepened a diplomatic rift between the U.S. and European leaders.
“There are economic tools of leverage, there are of course military tools of leverage,” Vance told the newspaper, describing the possible pressures the U.S. could apply on Russia. “There are any number of formulations, of configurations, but we do care about Ukraine having sovereign independence.”
Vance’s comments appeared to represent the strongest reassurance from the Trump administration yet for U.S. support for Kyiv.
Trump would not go into negotiations for a peace deal with “blinders on,” he said. “He’s going to say, ‘Everything is on the table, let’s make a deal.”
Friday’s security conference comes amid growing concerns over what actions Moscow might take if it is handed a win in Ukraine, particularly amid Trump’s suggestions that the U.S. would not defend NATO allies if they are attacked.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not accept any peace deal negotiated between the U.S. and Russia alone.
“Ukraine must negotiate from a position of strength, with strong and reliable security guarantees, and that NATO membership would be the most cost-effective for partners,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
Last year, NATO members had indicated that Ukraine was on an “irreversible path” to eventual membership in the alliance. But both Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have indicated that NATO membership and Ukraine regaining lost territory are effectively off the table.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday condemned any plan for peace talks that does not involve Ukrainians and Europeans.
“A sham peace — over the heads of Ukrainians and Europeans — would gain nothing,” Baerbock said in a statement as the security conference got underway. “A sham peace would not bring lasting security, neither for the people in Ukraine nor for us in Europe or the United States,” she said, according to Reuters.
Baerbock called for talks between U.S. and international partners to be held at the Munich conference, an annual gathering of political and military leaders, as well as diplomats.
Trump’s own defense secretary, Hegseth, has separately emphasized the need for Europe to take a lead in ending the brutal conflict, saying U.S. troops would not be part of any peacekeeping mission and that it would be up to European powers to finance Ukrainian security guarantees.
Trump on Thursday told reporters Ukraine would be included in talks with Russia, offering some reassurance, while Russia also said Ukraine would “of course” be involved in talks to end the war, but said there would also be a separate U.S.-Russian discourse, Reuters reported.
But comments from the president appearing to sympathize with Moscow’s stance, saying it had “fought for that land” and “lost a lot of soldiers” have deepened concerns over the possibility of a deal being struck in Russia’s favor, without input from Kyiv and European leaders.
Zelenskyy was expected to meet with Vance on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, where the effort to end the war in Ukraine will be a primary focus.
Daryna Mayer contributed.
