 "Thanks to Trump, Europe 'on the cusp of peace,' claims Vance as NSA Waltz mounts pressure on Ukraine")
US Vice President JD Vance Thursday (February 20) blew the trumpet of optimism during a speech at a conservative conference near the capital Washington DC.
“I really believe that we’re on the cusp of peace in Europe for the first time in three years, because we have leadership from the Oval Office, and we haven’t had it in four years in this country,” Vance told the crowd at CPAC.
However, the US vice president didn’t provide any update regarding the ongoing peace talks with Russia.
Vance defends talking to Russia
Vance further defended the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to talk to Russia in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian presence.
“How are you going to end the war unless you’re talking to Russia? You’ve got to talk to everybody involved in the fighting if you actually want to bring the come close,” he said.
Talks with Russia signal a drastic shift in American policy regarding the war in Ukraine.
President Trump meanwhile has been slamming Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the past few days, calling him a “dictator without elections” and accusing him of doing a “terrible job”.
Vance slams Europe
The US VP earlier slammed Europe for not showing gratitude to US despite gaining advantage of US aid to Ukraine.
“The conflict has placed — and continues to place — stress on tools of American statecraft, from military stockpiles to sanctions (and so much else). We believe the continued conflict is bad for Russia, bad for Ukraine, and bad for Europe. But most importantly, it is bad for the United States,” he wrote on social media.
Trump doesn’t like ‘badmouthing’
On Wednesday, Vance said in an interview that Zelenskyy’s ‘disinformation’ swipe at Trump ticked off the president, who doesn’t like “badmouthing.”
Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that Trump was living in a Russian “disinformation space” after he accused Kyiv of starting the war with Moscow.
“The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president’s mind by badmouthing him in public media … everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNSA Mike Waltz’s warning to Zelenskyy
Following heated exchange between Zelenskyy and Trump, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Thursday warned Kyiv against escalating rhetoric.
The NSA also asked Zelenskyy to review the mineral deal with the US, that the Ukrainian leader earlier rejected citing a “lack” of security guarantees.
Speaking to Fox News, Waltz stated that Ukraine “needs to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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