Washington: U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that securing an economic interest for the United States in Ukraine’s future would provide a stronger security guarantee than deploying foreign troops. His remarks, made during an interview with Fox News, come amid ongoing discussions over Ukraine’s mineral wealth and its role in U.S. strategic interests.
U.S. Economic Interests in Ukraine
President Donald Trump has been pushing for a minerals deal with Ukraine, which is home to vast reserves of lithium and rare earth minerals. The move is seen as a form of compensation for the billions of dollars in U.S. aid sent to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Trump is expected to outline further details about the potential agreement on Tuesday.
Negotiations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week reportedly ended in a tense exchange, with no formal agreement reached on the proposed deal.
Key Remarks by JD Vance
Vance emphasized that integrating American economic interests into Ukraine’s future would serve as a more effective deterrent against Russian aggression than military deployments.
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance said.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
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Vance also reiterated Trump’s stance on the possibility of peace negotiations, stating:
“What President Trump has said clearly and consistently is, of course, the door is open, so long as Zelenskiy is willing to seriously talk peace. You can’t come into the Oval Office or anywhere else and refuse to even discuss the details of a peace deal.”
Broader Context
Trump has consistently advocated for a resolution to the war, seeking an end to U.S. military assistance while promoting alternative forms of engagement, such as economic investments.
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Meanwhile, France, the UK, and other European nations have expressed willingness to send troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached—an idea that Moscow has outright dismissed. Zelensky has insisted that any ceasefire must be accompanied by explicit security guarantees from Western allies.
