U.S. Senator JD Vance said on Sunday, September 28, 2025, that Russia has refused to participate in peace talks with Ukraine, despite having made significant concessions to U.S. efforts to end the conflict. Vance made these remarks during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
Vance emphasized that Russia has acknowledged it cannot install a puppet regime in Kyiv and has conceded to the principle of Ukraine's territorial integrity after the war. However, he warned that peace negotiations are complex and unlikely to conclude overnight.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking on the same program, accused Western European leaders of obstructing peace efforts. Lavrov praised former U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts, asserting that both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin desire peace in Ukraine.
Lavrov criticized European leaders such as France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, Britain's Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for their approach to the conflict, suggesting they do not genuinely seek peace. He also denied Russian attacks on civilian targets, claiming strikes are limited to military and industrial sites supporting Ukraine's armed forces.
Despite Lavrov's assertions, the diplomatic stalemate continues. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the failure to arrange direct talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Vance acknowledged Russia's concessions but noted that a final peace agreement would require compromises from both sides.
Vance also reiterated that the United States would not deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine but would continue to support security guarantees for Kyiv. He expressed hope that ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts could eventually bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table.
The comments come amid heightened tensions and ongoing military actions in Ukraine, with Russia maintaining control over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, including the Donbas region. The international community remains divided on how to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
Sources: The Guardian (2025-08-24), The Moscow Times (2025-08-24)
