JD Vance , Vice President, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the Munich Security Conference to discuss Trump’s efforts in ending the war in Ukraine. Vance stated that the U.S. is seeking a “durable peace”, while Zelenskyy said he wanted to have extensive discussions in order to prepare for a possible end to the war.
Vance stated, “We want to see the killing stop, but also achieve a lasting, durable peace.” “Not a peace that will have Eastern Europe at war in a few years.”
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Vance for their meeting but stressed that Ukraine’s safety must be guaranteed in order to negotiate a resolution to the conflict. The conflict is now entering its fourth year.
Zelensky stated, “Really, we need to talk more, work more, and prepare a plan on how to stop Putin, and finish the war.” “We are very interested in this, but real security is needed.”
Vance sat at a table with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Special envoys for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg and Morgan Ortagus, deputy special envoy to the Middle East, were also present.
President Trump met with Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, Russian President on Wednesday. He also directed his national security staff to start working to negotiate an end to war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kyiv on Wednesday. This was the first time a top Trump administration official had personally met the Ukrainian President since the start of Mr. Trump’s second term.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will prepare an agreement for the strengthening of Ukraine’s economic and security relations with the U.S. in relation to the country’s minerals.
Before the Munich summit, President Trump said that the aid for Ukraine could be conditional on the availability of rare earth minerals within the country.
“I want my money back,” I said. “I told them I wanted the equivalent of $500 billion in rare earth,” said the president to Fox News. “They’ve essentially agreed to that, so we don’t have to feel stupid.”
Vance had previously refused to meet Zelenskyy during last year’s meeting in Munich. He told Polio that he did not think he would “learn anything new.”
The vice president met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte as well as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday.
CBS News reported that Vance had a major focus in his discussions with world leaders this week at the conference. The goal was to reach a negotiated agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Vance didn’t respond to reporters who asked him if Ukraine could join NATO.
In the Oval Office, Mr. Trump stated on Wednesday that it was “OK” to remove the idea of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO from the table. He characterized the proposal as being “not practical.”
Vance said that Trump wants to see European NATO allies contribute at least 5% to their GDP to increased security expenditures. He also reiterated this point during meetings with European leaders.
Vance stated that while the Trump administration was concerned about European security and believed that a settlement could be reached between Russia and Ukraine that would benefit both parties, it is also important that Europe step up to the plate in the future to ensure its own protection.
Vance gave a lecture to Europeans during the conference. He said, “The biggest threat I see for Europe isn’t Russia, it’s China.”
The vice president expressed concern about the threat coming from within Europe, and the retreat of Europe away from its fundamental values that are shared with the United States of America.
He then condemned the enforcement actions taken against European citizens by their allies. He cited the conviction in Sweden for incitement of a Quran-burner, the raids in Germany on people suspected of posting hate speech misogynistic online, and the conviction in Britain of a person accused of breaking the safe zone in front of an abortion clinic to pray.
Vance added, “If you are running from your own voters in fear, America cannot help you.”
