Vance ignites UK frustration with remarks on troops in Ukraine
J.D. Vance has stated that a deal with the US provides a more reliable security guarantee for Kiev than military support from a nation that hasn't engaged in combat for decades. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A deal with the US is a stronger security guarantee for Kiev than troops from a nation that hasn’t engaged in combat for decades, Vice President J.D. Vance believes.
Vance's comments, made during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, have drawn ire in the UK, particularly regarding the discussion of a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine. He remarked that a potential minerals agreement with the US would offer Ukraine a “better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
While Vance did not delineate which specific country or countries he was referencing, it is known that only London and Paris have expressed willingness to deploy troops on the ground as part of a peace initiative.
Various British politicians have viewed Vance’s comments as a thinly veiled jab at the UK and France. Critics have accused the US vice president of “disrespecting” the British military. Even Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and an ally of Trump, contended that Vance was “wrong” to make such assertions, emphasizing that the UK had stood by the US for 20 years in Afghanistan.
Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge criticized Vance for “ignoring the service and sacrifice” of UK and French troops who fought in Afghanistan, while former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer labeled Vance a “clown” who “needs to check his privilege.”
In response, Vance stated on X that he did not “even mention the UK or France,” recognizing that both nations “fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.” He further clarified, “But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful,” he explained.
These comments came as President Donald Trump ordered a halt to all US military aid to Ukraine following a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week. Zelensky faced accusations of “disrespecting” the US, with Trump asserting that the Ukrainian leader does not seek peace. Consequently, a proposed minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine was left unsigned.
In light of Zelensky’s unsuccessful visit to Washington, Kiev’s allies convened an emergency summit to devise an alternative approach aimed at halting the fighting. This new plan, proposed by Paris and London, involves a month-long truce covering air, sea, and energy infrastructures, followed by a deployment of Western European peacekeepers led by France and the UK.
Russia, however, has dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire, demanding a permanent and legally binding peace agreement. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked that the presence of Western European peacekeepers would escalate tensions, warning that any foreign troops in Ukraine without a UN mandate would be seen as legitimate targets.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Vance's comments, made during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, have drawn ire in the UK, particularly regarding the discussion of a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine. He remarked that a potential minerals agreement with the US would offer Ukraine a “better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
While Vance did not delineate which specific country or countries he was referencing, it is known that only London and Paris have expressed willingness to deploy troops on the ground as part of a peace initiative.
Various British politicians have viewed Vance’s comments as a thinly veiled jab at the UK and France. Critics have accused the US vice president of “disrespecting” the British military. Even Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and an ally of Trump, contended that Vance was “wrong” to make such assertions, emphasizing that the UK had stood by the US for 20 years in Afghanistan.
Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge criticized Vance for “ignoring the service and sacrifice” of UK and French troops who fought in Afghanistan, while former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer labeled Vance a “clown” who “needs to check his privilege.”
In response, Vance stated on X that he did not “even mention the UK or France,” recognizing that both nations “fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.” He further clarified, “But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful,” he explained.
These comments came as President Donald Trump ordered a halt to all US military aid to Ukraine following a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week. Zelensky faced accusations of “disrespecting” the US, with Trump asserting that the Ukrainian leader does not seek peace. Consequently, a proposed minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine was left unsigned.
In light of Zelensky’s unsuccessful visit to Washington, Kiev’s allies convened an emergency summit to devise an alternative approach aimed at halting the fighting. This new plan, proposed by Paris and London, involves a month-long truce covering air, sea, and energy infrastructures, followed by a deployment of Western European peacekeepers led by France and the UK.
Russia, however, has dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire, demanding a permanent and legally binding peace agreement. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked that the presence of Western European peacekeepers would escalate tensions, warning that any foreign troops in Ukraine without a UN mandate would be seen as legitimate targets.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
