Vance’s Ukraine Comments Spark Backlash from UK, France/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President JD Vance angered officials in the UK and France by dismissing a Ukraine peacekeeping proposal as inferior to a U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal. His remark about “some random country” sending troops drew swift criticism, despite later clarification. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump paused U.S. aid to Ukraine, pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate with Russia, further straining relations with European allies.
Vance’s Ukraine Comments: Quick Look
- Vance’s Remark: Called U.S.-Ukraine economic ties a stronger deterrent than troops from “some random country.”
- Backlash from UK, France: Officials demand apology, citing UK-French sacrifices in Iraq, Afghanistan.
- Vance Responds: Later clarified his comments, praising British and French forces.
- Trump’s Policy Shift: Pauses aid to Ukraine, pushing for negotiations with Russia.
- Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth: U.S. seeks access to critical minerals as part of future economic deal.
- UK’s Counterpoint: PM Keir Starmer insists a mineral deal is not enough for security.
- Zelenskyy’s Frustration: Calls peace talks with Russia “very, very far away.”
Vance’s Ukraine Remarks Strain U.S. Ties with UK, France
Vance Downplays Ukraine Peacekeeping Proposal
Vice President JD Vance stirred controversy with U.S. allies Britain and France after questioning the effectiveness of a European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Vance argued that a U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal would be a more effective security measure than deploying troops from what he called “some random country.”
The UK and France, both strong U.S. military partners, took offense, seeing it as a dismissal of their commitment to NATO and past wars.
“JD Vance is wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong,” said Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, in an interview with GB News.
“For 20 years in Afghanistan, we stood by America at the same level of commitment,” he added.
France, UK Push Back Against Vance’s Remarks
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are leading the charge for a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine—a move Vance seemingly dismissed.
- France’s Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged Vance’s later clarification but said his original comments were “unfortunate.”
- UK Liberal Democrat defense spokesperson Helen Maguire, a former British soldier, demanded an apology for what she called “erasing the sacrifices” of British troops.
“JD Vance is erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Maguire said.
Vance responded by clarifying his remarks, saying he did not name specific nations and praised the UK and France’s military history.
Trump Pauses Ukraine Aid, Pressures Zelenskyy
The controversy comes as Trump unexpectedly paused U.S. military aid to Ukraine, aiming to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into negotiations with Russia.
The move stunned European allies and fueled tensions, as Trump and Vance clashed with Zelenskyy during his recent White House visit. Reports indicate Trump abruptly ended the meeting after a heated exchange.
Zelenskyy has rejected the push for negotiations, saying that a peace deal with Russia is still “very, very far away.”
U.S. Pushes Critical Minerals Deal as Security Measure
Instead of committing to a military peacekeeping force, the Trump administration is prioritizing economic ties—proposing a U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal.
Ukraine is rich in valuable resources, including:
- Titanium – Crucial for aerospace and military manufacturing.
- Lithium – A key element in electric vehicle batteries.
- Manganese – Used in medical and industrial applications.
Vance defended the proposal, arguing that U.S. economic interests in Ukraine would deter Russia more effectively than European peacekeepers.
“If you want real security guarantees… the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance said.
Starmer: “A Mineral Deal Is Not Enough”
Despite the Trump administration’s economic-first approach, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains unconvinced.
“A mineral deal is not enough on its own,” Starmer said. He emphasized that a peacekeeping mission needs U.S. support, including:
- Aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering.
- U.S. rapid-response cover in case of Russian violations.
- Long-term commitment to European-led defense forces.
The Future of U.S.-Europe Relations
With Trump’s approach shifting away from direct military engagement, the rift between Washington and its European allies is growing.
The coming weeks will determine:
- Will Trump resume military aid to Ukraine?
- Can the U.S. and Europe agree on a peacekeeping strategy?
- Will Ukraine’s critical minerals deal move forward?
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