JD Vance, Treasury Sec Scott Bessent to meet with Zelenskyy as Trump team sets sights on Russia-Ukraine war
Vice President JD Vance is set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, marking a significant shift in Vance’s stance on U.S. funding for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian officials on Feb. 20. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be sent by former President Donald Trump to hold discussions with Zelenskyy in Ukraine.
Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of U.S. spending on global issues, recently expressed a desire to end the war in Ukraine, citing the high cost in terms of lives lost and destruction. As part of his efforts to broker a peace deal, he has tasked Kellogg with engaging in negotiations with Ukraine and Russia. The discussions are expected to cover topics such as sanctions, the allocation of U.S. funding, and the potential for collaboration on rare Earth minerals.
The Munich Security Conference will bring together key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with a focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite reports suggesting that the U.S. has a concrete plan to end the war, a European official familiar with the peace talks revealed that no such plan has been finalized. The negotiations involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin are expected to be challenging, with all options on the table including the possibility of imposing further sanctions.
Trump hinted at a potential meeting with Zelenskyy and Putin in the near future, emphasizing the importance of access to Ukraine’s rare Earth minerals in exchange for military aid. He also speculated about the potential for Ukraine to align with Russia in the future. Both Zelenskyy and Putin have shown reluctance to engage in direct talks, with Putin demanding territorial concessions from Ukraine and Zelenskyy maintaining a firm stance against ceding any land.
Vance, who has been a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine in the past, will now have the opportunity to engage directly with Zelenskyy on the issue. Despite his previous indifference towards Ukraine, Vance’s meeting with Zelenskyy signifies a shift in his approach to the conflict. The Munich Security Conference report highlights the changing dynamics in global leadership, with the U.S. potentially stepping back from its role as Europe’s security guarantor, which could have significant implications for Ukraine and the broader international community.
