JD Vance warns Russia and Ukraine to accept ceasefire deal or risk losing U.S. support

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has delivered a stark ultimatum to Moscow and Kyiv, urging them to accept a proposed ceasefire deal or face a withdrawal of American diplomatic efforts.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on April 23 that Russia and Ukraine must agree to a ceasefire or the United States will walk away from negotiations, signaling a major shift in Washington’s approach to ending the war.

“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes, or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters during his four-day visit to India.

His comments come as U.S., Ukrainian, and European envoys convened in London for fresh peace talks aimed at halting the conflict, now in its third year.

Vance suggested that any future agreement would likely require both sides to make territorial concessions. “It’s now time to take, if not the final step, one of the final steps — to stop the killing and freeze territorial lines somewhere close to where they are today,” he said.

The pressure from Washington reflects growing frustration within the Trump administration over stalled negotiations. President Donald Trump, who had pledged to end the war within 24 hours during his campaign, has thus far been unable to extract meaningful concessions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s March proposal for an unconditional ceasefire was accepted in principle by Kyiv but rejected by Moscow. While both sides had agreed to a 30-day moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure, the Kremlin has since declared that arrangement expired.

The latest warning from Vance may mark a turning point in U.S. engagement, with officials indicating that continued support for peace efforts hinges on rapid progress.

Copied