US Vice President Vance: Russia has made significant concessions to Ukraine peace deal

JD Vance, the U.S. vice president, said that Russia had made "significant concessions," toward a negotiated resolution in its war against Ukraine. He was confident of progress despite the absence of clear signs that the conflict was nearing an ending.

Vance, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press With Kristen Welker”, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made several concessions. He also stated that Ukraine would receive security guarantees to protect it against future Russian aggression.

Vance made comments on Sunday that said, "I believe the Russians have made substantial concessions to President Trump. This is the first time they've done so in the three-and-a-half years of the conflict."

"They have realized that they won't be able install a puppet government in Kyiv. This was a major request at the start. They've also acknowledged the fact that Ukraine will have some kind of security guarantee.

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and started a war that has resulted in the deaths of tens thousands of people. Sources said last week that in exchange for stopping Russia's attack, Putin demands Ukraine to give up the entire eastern Donbas region and renounce its ambitions to join NATO. He also wants Ukraine remain neutral, keep Western troops away from the country and renounce any plans of joining NATO.

In an interview aired on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that a group including members of the United Nations Security Council should be the guarantee of Ukraine's safety.

Donald Trump reiterated his threat on Friday to impose sanctions against Russia if a peaceful resolution in Ukraine was not achieved in the next two weeks. This is a sign of frustration with Moscow, a week following his meeting in Alaska with Putin.

Vance said that sanctions would be assessed on a case by case basis. He acknowledged that it was unlikely new penalties would prompt Russia to agree to an agreement with Ukraine.

Vance cited Trump's announcement of an additional 25% on Indian goods this month as a punishment to New Delhi for its purchases of Russian crude oil as an example of the type of economic leverage which would be used to pursue peace.

Vance stated that "he's tried make it clear to Russia that they can be invited back into the world's economy if the stop the killing. But they'll continue to be isolate if they do not stop the murder." (Reporting and editing by Ross Colvin in Wilton Connecticut, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft, and Nathan Layne)

(source: Reuters)