Former President Donald Trump has promised to swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine war if he returns to the White House. His running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, outlined what that approach could look like during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show.
Vance said Trump, as the GOP nominee, would quickly initiate peace talks after winning the November election against Vice President Kamala Harris. He explained that Trump would likely tell Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, “You guys need to figure out what does a peaceful settlement look like?” and suggested the solution would involve establishing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine.
Vance described the proposed DMZ as “heavily fortified so the Russians don’t invade again.” In this scenario, Ukraine would maintain its sovereignty, and Russia would receive a guarantee that Ukraine remains neutral, not joining NATO or other Western alliances.
According to Vance, Trump would secure a deal swiftly because of his reputation abroad: “They’re scared of him in Russia, they’re worried about him in Europe because they know he actually means what he says.”
Vance criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict, saying, “Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel, Kamala Harris doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing,” and accused them of relying on throwing money at the issue. In contrast, Trump’s approach, according to Vance, would be “strong but also smart. Negotiate.”
Highlighting Trump’s diplomacy skills, Vance noted, “We give Trump credit for being strong, but we don’t give him enough credit for smart diplomacy. It’s not just strength, it’s also intelligence.” He added that Trump’s pragmatic approach to international relations helped maintain global peace during his administration.
Vance cited Trump’s willingness to engage with difficult figures on the world stage, recalling, “In World War II, we allied with Joseph Stalin to beat Adolf Hitler. We can engage in diplomacy even with very bad guys.”
However, Ukraine has insisted that any peace agreement must reverse Russia’s annexation of four regions—Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—claimed in September 2022, and Crimea must be returned to Ukrainian control. The Kremlin has maintained that Ukraine must accept those annexations.
