US Vice President demands Ukrainian leader engage in peace talks for White House return

US Vice President J.D. Vance made it clear that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be welcomed back to the White House unless he agrees to discuss the specifics of a peace agreement regarding Ukraine. 

“You will not be able to return to the Oval Office or anywhere else, refusing to discuss the details of the peace agreement,” he stated in an interview with Fox News, per Caliber.Az.

Vance’s statement comes after a February 28 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, which was originally scheduled to focus on a potential mineral deal. However, the discussion quickly turned contentious, particularly over the peace process in Ukraine.

Vance described Zelenskyy as unwilling to engage in peace talks, noting that Trump had initially tried to be cordial, despite the “jabs” and lies he felt came from the Ukrainian leader. 

He added, “The peace agreement will not make anyone happy,” acknowledging that both sides would have to make difficult concessions.

Vance also pointed out that while European nations publicly support Kyiv, they should privately encourage Zelenskyy to end the conflict.

On the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine, Vance argued that the most effective option would be to “give the Americans an economic perspective”, calling it a stronger form of support than simply sending troops. “This is a much better guarantee than 20,000 troops from a country that has not been at war for 30 or 40 years,” he emphasized.

The diplomatic fallout from the White House meeting has been significant. The tension escalated during the meeting, which also included Vance, who criticized Zelenskyy’s attitude toward US aid. The disagreement grew heated, leading to Zelenskyy leaving the White House prematurely, and the expected agreement was never finalized.