U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned on Thursday that the U.S. could impose sanctions or even take military action against Russia if President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a peace deal guaranteeing Ukraine’s long-term independence. Vance left the door open to sending American troops to Ukraine if Russia doesn’t negotiate seriously, marking a sharper stance compared to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who earlier stated the U.S. would avoid deploying forces.
Vance emphasized that President Trump has multiple options both economic and military to pressure Russia, aiming to give Trump flexibility in talks with Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “There’s a whole host of things we could do,” Vance said, suggesting Trump is pushing for a deal that “will shock a lot of people” once negotiations advance.
The remarks came after Trump announced plans to broker peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Shortly after, Vance met Zelenskyy in Munich on Friday for urgent discussions about ending the war. Kyiv stressed the need for a joint strategy with Washington, especially after Trump’s unexpected decision to engage directly with Putin. Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, clarified he’s willing to meet Putin face-to-face—but only once Ukraine and its allies, including the U.S. and Europe, finalize a unified plan to end the conflict. The meeting with Vance highlighted Ukraine’s efforts to keep the U.S. aligned with its goals amid shifting diplomatic moves by Trump.
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