U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that negotiations to end the Russia‑Ukraine conflict have been reduced to two core issues: territorial claims and security guarantees. Moscow wants to retain control of roughly 6,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land it has not yet seized by force. In exchange, Ukraine is demanding security assurances from European nations or other actors to prevent future Russian attacks.
Russia has consistently asserted that it does not intend to occupy Ukraine in its entirety. President Vladimir Putin reiterated this position in 2022 when the fighting intensified and again after Russian troops withdrew from Kyiv. Nevertheless, Moscow insists that any settlement must acknowledge Ukraine’s neutrality and demilitarization and incorporate regions such as Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into Russian territory.
Vance noted that negotiations have made significant progress, but the key question remains whether Russia and Ukraine will ultimately accept a peaceful settlement. He emphasized that the international community continues to work toward a resolution, recognizing the substantial human suffering the war has already caused. While hopeful for a peaceful outcome, the Vice President cautioned that the timing and human cost of such a settlement remain uncertain.
Recently, President Putin expressed cautious optimism about prospects for peace, citing the United States’ shift toward mediation as a positive development. This comment followed a meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska last month. Although the talks produced no immediate breakthroughs, both leaders described the encounter as a constructive step. As the conflict persists, the international community remains focused on achieving a lasting resolution to the crisis.
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