Russia should not expect to be given back territories it does not control
-
- Mariia Khamitsevych
-
•
-
11:32, 09 May, 2025
JD Vance. Photo: Associated PressUS Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington expected Russia to ask for «too much» during the talks, but added: Moscow should not think that it will be given territories it does not control.
He said in an interview with Fox News.
According to him, Russia is convinced that it is winning on the frontline, and therefore expectedly asked for too much. At the same time, Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire partly because «it has not been doing very well» over the past few months, the US vice president said.
«Our position is that we don't want to see Ukraine disintegrate. We want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country. But Russia cannot expect to be given back territory that it has not even captured yet,» J.D. Vance explained.
At the same time, he called it progress that the parties put their specific demands on the negotiating table.
«We knew that in the first offer, the Russians would ask for more than was reasonable to give. And this is how negotiations often work. I'm not worried about that,» the US Vice President added.
He stressed, however, that he would be concerned if it became clear that the Russians did not want to negotiate in good faith. In this case, the United States would withdraw from the negotiation process, J.D. Vance explained.
«This would mean that Russia and Ukraine would be forced to resolve this case without US advice and mediation. I don't think that's good for us, Russia or Ukraine,» he said.
J.D. Vance also said that the United States is now facing a choice about whether to increase military support for Ukraine, but before doing so, they want to understand how the negotiation process will develop.
It should be recalled that despite the expiration of the previous aid package to Ukraine, approved under the presidency of Joe Biden, the White House and the US Congress are not actually discussing new support.