The Trump administration sends mixed signals about its position in the Ukraine war.
in interview With the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Vans warned that there are difficult measures at the Russian table if its President Vladimir Putin refused to conclude a deal with Ukraine that guarantees the sovereignty of its neighbor.
“There are economic tools for the leverage, there are, of course, military leverage tools,” he said.
But Vance seems confident that an agreement can be reached to end the conflict for about three years.
“I think there is a deal that will come out of this that will shock many people,” he said.
Vans seems to hit a large tone of the data made by Trump and Defense Minister Beit Higseth this week, which prompted widespread concern among Kiev’s allies in Europe as well as Republicans in the United States.
Higseth on Wednesday He said The return to the borders of Ukraine before 2014, before Russia’s annexation of the Crimea is “a goal of illusion.” He also threw cold water on Ukraine’s horizons to join NATO.
While Higseth Seek to return Part of this statement on Thursday, indicating that everything ultimately depends on Trump, the president still appears on NATO ambitions in Ukraine.
“I don’t see that happening,” Trump said.
This week, Trump received a lengthy phone call to Putin, without first speaking to Ukrainian President Voludmir Zelinsky or European allies. In a post on this social platform of the truth, Trump He said He and Putin agreed to “start negotiations” on a possible deal to end the war.
Vans seems to repeat the belief that everything on the table regarding the conditions of the potential deal.
“President Trump can say, look, we don’t want this thing, we may not love this thing, but we are ready to return it on the table if the Russians are not good negotiating partners, or there are things this is very important for the Ukrainians who may want to take off the table.” .
Vans and Zelinski will meet in Munich on Friday. American secretary Marco Rubio was expected to join their meeting, but it is unclear whether he would be able to attend after his original trip to Germany. It witnessed a “mechanical issue”.
Zelinski He told reporters He does not believe that the United States “has a ready plan” to end the war.
“I think this is very important,” he added.