US Vice President JD Vance Coordinates Zelensky-Putin Meeting on Ukraine Conflict

Vice President J.D. Vance shared that he jokingly warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to 'behave' as a lighthearted icebreaker before a crucial Oval Office summit with President Donald Trump, aiming to ease tensions after a previous meeting had devolved into a heated argument. Vance has been tasked with coordinating a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. He described Putin as more soft-spoken and deliberate than the cold, ruthless image often portrayed in American media, emphasizing Putin's focus on Russia's interests. Vance also addressed speculation about the 2028 presidential race and urged Elon Musk to abandon plans for a third party, encouraging him instead to work within the Republican Party and support President Trump's GOP agenda. According to Vance, Musk is perceived by the far left as aligned with the American right, and a third party would struggle to gain traction. The meetings between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin are seen as vital to negotiating Ukraine's territorial integrity and Russia's territorial claims, with the goal of establishing security guarantees and ending the war.