Ukraine urged to swap territories for peace, Vance suggests
Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, chosen by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump as his vice-presidential running mate, suggested that Ukraine should cede the territories occupied by Russia while securing guarantees for its sovereignty.
As "The American Conservative" reports, Vance suggests halting military operations in areas where both sides' forces are currently stationed and establishing a fortified and demilitarised zone to prevent another Russian invasion.
Territories in exchange for NATO?
The U.S. vice-presidential candidate stated that Kyiv would receive sovereignty guarantees in return for the occupied territories, provided Ukraine remains neutral and forgoes joining NATO. Vance also suggested that Germany should be responsible for financing Ukraine's reconstruction.
In his opinion, continuing the war in a "stalemate" will entail significant costs for the United States and Europe, while Russia has the upper hand in a war of attrition.
Earlier, Trump's representative at the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance, said, "We simply do not have manufacturing capacity to support a ground war in Eastern Europe indefinitely. And I think it's incumbent upon leaders to articulate this for their populations."
"How long is this expected to go on? How much is it expected to cost? And importantly, how are we actually supposed to produce the weapons necessary to support the Ukrainians?" he inquired.
"I don't care what happens to Ukraine"
- It's a catastrophe for Ukraine - remarked a high-ranking EU official in July in an interview with Politico, commenting on the selection of Senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance, as the vice-presidential candidate.
Vance has previously expressed the need to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that the U.S. should turn its attention to what he considers the more pressing issue—China. In 2022, he made his stance on Ukraine clear, stating in an interview that he was indifferent to the country's fate.
Absurd demands from Russia
Ukraine remains insistent on implementing the "peace formula" proposed by President Zelensky, which includes a return to the 1991 borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.
In mid-June, Vladimir Putin presented his plan to "end the conflict," which comprises the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from areas occupied by Russia, Kyiv's recognition of the loss of control over these territories and Crimea, refusal of Ukraine's accession to NATO, assurance of nuclear-free state status, and lifting of Western sanctions on Russia.
In Kyiv, the plan was immediately dismissed as unacceptable.
