Vice President JD Vance engaged in high-stakes diplomatic talks with European and Ukrainian officials in the United Kingdom on Saturday, aiming to advance peace efforts in Ukraine less than a week before the anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vice President JD Vance conducted a series of critical diplomatic discussions on Saturday with European allies and Ukrainian officials in the U.K. This initiative took place ahead of the upcoming historic meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to a U.S. official who spoke with ABC News, the talks involving Vance achieved “significant progress toward President Trump’s goal of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.” The discussions were held at Chevening House, the residence of the U.K. Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, in Kent, England, and included representatives from Ukraine and various European allies.
The prospect of the impending Trump-Putin summit has stirred concerns among Ukrainian officials and European leaders, particularly as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be present at the negotiations table. French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on this on Saturday, noting his conversations with both Zelensky and other European leaders emphasized Ukraine’s essential role in determining its future. “The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now,” Macron stated.
President Trump, in a White House address on Friday, suggested a potential component of the negotiations could be a “swapping of territories,” a notion briskly rejected by Zelensky, who affirmed that Ukraine “will not give Russia any awards for what it has done” and that territory will not be given to the occupiers.
Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, have insisted on Ukraine’s necessary participation in any negotiations. Yermak emphasized, “a reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table, respecting our sovereignty without recognizing the occupation,” in a statement issued on Saturday that also expressed gratitude to JD Vance for his involvement in the U.K. discussions.
During a Saturday evening address, Zelensky described the U.K. talks as “constructive,” highlighting the active diplomatic engagement between Ukraine and various EU allies. He stressed that “all our messages were conveyed,” indicating that Ukraine’s arguments and concerns are being considered, stating “The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together – and only together – with Ukraine. This is fundamental.”
Zelensky also expressed optimism about President Trump’s capacity to influence the situation, noting that Ukraine has supported Trump’s proposals since February. Friday served as the deadline set by Trump for Putin to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine, under the threat of “secondary sanctions” targeting nations purchasing Russian oil. However, uncertainty lingers about the imposition of new economic sanctions by the U.S., even as Trump plans to proceed with his meeting with Putin.
The upcoming meeting in Alaska will be Putin’s first engagement with a significant Western leader since the onset of the conflict over three years ago, and marks his first visit to the United States in a decade.