The United States has put forward what it calls a “very explicit proposal” to both Ukraine and Russia aimed at resolving the war, said U.S. Vice President JD Vance during his visit to India. According to Vance, it is time for the parties to either accept the terms or for the U.S. to step back from the negotiation process altogether.
“This is a clear path toward peace. It’s time for them to say ‘yes’—or it’s time for the United States to exit this process,” Vance told reporters after touring the Taj Mahal.
He emphasized that any future borders would likely be drawn close to the current frontlines, which implies territorial concessions by both sides. However, such a “freeze” in the conflict would come at a much higher cost for Kyiv, which has consistently aimed to retake all territories seized by Russia since 2014—including Crimea—especially after the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
According to Bloomberg, Washington’s proposal involves formal recognition of Russian control over Crimea and a partial lifting of sanctions against Moscow as part of a broader peace agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, reiterated on Tuesday that Kyiv would never accept the Russian occupation of the peninsula, which is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
“There’s going to have to be some territorial swaps,” Vance added. “Maybe the final border won’t be exactly where the front lines are today, but if we want the killing to stop, both sides must lay down their arms, freeze the situation, and focus on building a better Russia and a better Ukraine.”
As Bloomberg reports, Vance’s remarks echo the position of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently warned that the U.S. may abandon its efforts to broker peace if no progress is made soon. Trump’s special envoy, Steven Witkoff, has already met with Russian President Vladimir Putin three times since the inauguration and is expected to return to Moscow this week. Witkoff described his latest meeting with Putin as “compelling.”
Despite the hardline rhetoric, Vance remained cautiously optimistic, saying that all sides have so far negotiated in good faith and that he still sees a viable path forward.
Meanwhile, a planned high-level summit in London on Wednesday between officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and key European powers has been downgraded to technical-level discussions following the postponement of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit, Bloomberg reports.
Thus, the U.S. initiative—centered around territorial compromises and a partial normalization of relations with Russia—remains highly controversial. But amid growing Western fatigue with the protracted conflict, Washington appears increasingly inclined to push for a deal, even if it comes at the expense of Ukraine’s long-held territorial claims.
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