U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s recent shift in position on the Russia-Ukraine war is tied to the loss of human lives and the collapse of Russia’s economy.
“The Russian economy is in chaos. They are not making significant gains on the battlefield. Clearly, it’s time for them to heed his urgent call to sit at the negotiating table and talk seriously about peace,” Vance told Fox News Sunday host Martha MacCallum.
He added: “What has changed is the reality on the ground, with the Russians killing many people, losing many people, and having little to show for it.”
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump said that NATO allies should shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace.
Trump also confirmed that the United States will continue to supply weapons to NATO, allowing the alliance to decide how to use them.
In a notable shift, Trump declared that Ukraine could not only win the war against Russia but also reclaim its lost territories.
This stance marks a sharp contrast to his earlier statements suggesting that Ukraine could not win and should cede occupied territories to Russia.
His appearance alongside Zelensky last week also differed from a February meeting, when both Trump and Vance had sharply criticized the Ukrainian president. At that time, Trump had argued that Zelensky was “not ready for peace if America is involved, because he believes our involvement gives him a major advantage in negotiations.”
