Top official defends secret diplomatic negotiations.
By Steve Holland
NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended President Donald Trump’s negotiations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, stating that such talks could potentially contribute to achieving resolution in the Ukraine conflict. Vance articulated during his address at the Conservative Political Action Conference, “How can we expect to bring an end to the conflict without engaging in dialogue with Russia?”
A U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, engaged in discussions with a Russian delegation in Riyadh on Tuesday, focusing on strategies to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. Notably, Ukraine was notably absent from these talks, leading to objections from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Subsequent to the meetings, exchanges between Trump and Zelenskiy have turned contentious. Trump labeled the Ukrainian leader a dictator and erroneously insinuated that Ukraine initiated the conflict. Zelenskiy countered by accusing Trump of promoting Russian disinformation.
Vance avoided delving into the specifics of the controversy as he addressed the assembly of conservatives gathered on the outskirts of Washington. He lauded Trump as “an adept negotiator” who is unafraid to explore all available options for negotiation.
Attributing Trump’s intensified efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict, Vance expressed optimism, stating, “I firmly believe that we are on the verge of achieving peace in Europe for the first time in three years.”
Vance gained prominence following his appearance at the Munich Security Conference the previous week, where he critiqued European leaders for their perceived inadequacies in managing migrant influxes and accused them of stifling dissent against migration policies.
These remarks drew criticism in Europe. However, during the CPAC event, Vance received a standing ovation from the conservative audience when the moderator, Mercedes Schlapp, referenced his Munich speech.
Vance affirmed that Trump, who has been vocal about NATO members increasing contributions to defense efforts, desires robust alliances with Europe. He emphasized that the strength of these alliances hinges on the direction that societies take.
Regarding critiques from Democrats on the administration’s approach to combatting inflation, Vance defended the Trump White House, indicating that the President has been in office for only a month, underscoring that achieving significant change will require time. “While there is much more ground to cover, I believe we have made a promising start,” Vance asserted.
(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)
