U.S. Vice President visits troops in UK ahead of Trump-Putin summit

U.S. Vice President JD Vance addresses USAF troops at RAF Fairford airbase, UK, 13 August, 2025
Reuters

U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited American troops in Gloucestershire, England ahead of President Trump’s historic Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting Europe’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

During his UK trip, Vance met U.S. forces and senior European officials, stressing the need to “strengthen ties with European allies” and urging them to take “greater ownership” of the Ukraine conflict.

Addressing U.S. troops at the base, he praised their role in bolstering U.S. influence abroad.

Speaking to troops, he said, “You guys are the reason why we can go into a negotiation with strength. You guys are the reason why we have leverage in these conversations with world leaders.”

He also highlighted recent peace efforts, noting, “If you look back at the last six months… in Rwanda and the Congo, in East Asia, in Serbia-Kosovo… you guys make that possible.”

The visit comes days before Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska—the first meeting between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since 2021 and the first time a Russian leader has set foot on Alaskan soil since 1867.

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