Ukraine lacks ‘credible pathway’ to victory: US vice president

ISTANBUL

US Vice President JD Vance on Friday rejected claims that Ukraine has a “credible pathway” to victory arguing that additional aid packages would not change the outcome of the war.

In a post on X, Vance dismissed allegations that US policy toward Ukraine amounts to “appeasement,” stating that such a label only applies if Kyiv had a realistic chance of winning, which he asserted it does not.

The vice president rejected the idea that Ukraine could achieve a decisive victory with more aid, calling such arguments “provably, demonstrably false.”

Vance defended US President Donald Trump’s approach to diplomacy, saying: “President believes to conduct diplomacy, you actually have to speak to people. This used to be called statesmanship.”

Vance also criticized those who argue that the US should have begun talks to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine by saying "Maybe we'll let Ukraine into NATO," suggesting that it is not in line with the reality on the ground and “defies all common sense.”

Vance emphasized that the administration is focused on achieving a lasting peace rather than appeasing public sentiment. “We’re not going to telegraph our negotiating posture to make people feel better,” he said, adding that leaked details about negotiations are often “entirely bogus or missing critical info.”

He also criticized what he called “fake media” narratives claiming the US has given Russia everything it wants.

This statement comes against the backdrop of the US steps to end the war in the region and the subsequent reactions in Ukraine and the European Union.