**US Still Hopes for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks, VP Vance Says**
The United States remains optimistic that Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine can be brought to an end. This was revealed by US Vice President JD Vance during a visit to Italy on April 18.
Vance updated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, saying that there were “interesting things to report” in the past 24 hours. However, he did not provide further details. Despite the ongoing war, Vance expressed optimism that a deal could be reached, stating that “we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this brutal war to a close.”
Vance’s comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would abandon its diplomatic push in the coming days unless Russia signals readiness to engage. Rubio emphasized that while President Donald Trump remains interested in reaching a deal, he has other priorities if no agreement appears possible.
**US Officials Push for Ceasefire**
The US president began his term promising a ceasefire within 24 hours of taking office, later extending the timeline to 100 days. During a meeting in Paris on April 17, US officials told their European counterparts that they aim to secure a full ceasefire within weeks. This meeting included Ukrainian officials and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Kyiv accepted an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposal during US-led talks in Jeddah on March 11. However, Moscow rejected the deal unless it included conditions undermining Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including a full halt on military aid. The Kremlin also demanded a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership and full Russian control over occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
**Frustration Grows in White House**
The White House has grown frustrated over the lack of progress. Russia continues its offensive operations, and a limited truce on strikes targeting energy infrastructure has failed to hold. Trump has increasingly blamed both Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach a deal and has publicly called the war “Biden’s war.”
**Ukraine’s Stance Remains Firm**
Ukraine has maintained that any peace deal must include security guarantees and has said it would never recognize the Russian occupation of its sovereign territory. The country remains committed to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The US still hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, despite the ongoing challenges and frustration in the White House. As Vance stated, “we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this brutal war to a close.” However, it remains to be seen whether Russia will signal readiness to engage and whether a deal can be reached.
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