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"Russia is "asking for a lot"! Vance calls for direct Moscow-Kiev talks

Politiko 2025-05-07 21:20:16

"Russia is "asking for a lot"! Vance calls for direct Moscow-Kiev

US Vice President J.D. Vance called for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, saying an agreement to end Moscow's war against the neighboring state may not be reached without such a format of negotiations.

In statements made on May 7, Vance said Russia is "asking for a lot", but also suggested that Ukraine should not be fixated on the idea of a 30-day ceasefire. He said that the differences are huge, but added that he is optimistic that there is a likelihood of an end to the war.

"You don't have to agree with the Russian rationale for the war, but you have to understand where that reasoning comes from – to push them to talk about what they are looking for to end the war," Vance said at an event in Washington. "The Russians are asking for a number of things and we think they are asking for a lot."

"The step we need to take now is for Russia and Ukraine to start talking to each other. We think that it is probably impossible to fully mediate the whole process without having at least some direct negotiations," he said.

The statements by Vance, who last week said the biggest war in Europe since 1945 would not end "anytime soon", were made after major drone strikes between Russia and Ukraine that were carried out on the eve of World War II commemoration on May 8 and 9.

Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would apply a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 and invited Kiev to do the same.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said such an announcement is propaganda and Russia must agree to a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire in line with the US proposal made in March. At that time, Ukraine had agreed to the American proposal, but not Russia.

Vance hinted that Ukraine should not press for such a ceasefire.

"The gap [between Russian and Ukrainian positions] is huge, but I am optimistic. We are trying to move away from the obsession with the 30-day ceasefire. If cold heads win in this case, we can stop the killings," he said.

The Kremlin, which launched the war against Ukraine in 2022, said on May 6 that it would implement a three-day ceasefire, but added that it would respond "immediately" if Ukraine carries out attacks.

U.S. officials have warned that Washington may abandon efforts to achieve peace if progress is not made soon. Also, the future of US military aid to Ukraine is uncertain, increasing pressure on Europe to play a greater role and provide security for Ukraine./REL

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