Vance: Russia's Demands Excessive for Ukraine Ceasefire

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that Russia is currently making excessive demands in peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, describing Moscow's requirements as 'asking for too much.' While Vance acknowledged that Russia may be open to resolving the conflict, he emphasized a significant gap between Russian and Ukrainian positions. He advocated for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, expressing skepticism that the U.S. could mediate the entire process alone. Vance also highlighted the importance of understanding the Kremlin's perspective, even while criticizing Russia's full-scale invasion. The Trump administration’s approach, described as 'strategic realism,' aims to facilitate dialogue by encouraging both sides to establish basic guidelines for talks. European allies have expressed concern that this stance might inadvertently legitimize Russian claims.