Vice President JD Vance stated that Russia has made "significant concessions" in negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He expressed optimism about the diplomatic efforts, despite the absence of clear indicators that the war is nearing an end. Vance's comments were made during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Vance highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown flexibility in discussions, particularly regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity. "I think the Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict," Vance said. He noted that Russia has acknowledged it cannot install a puppet government in Kyiv, which was a major demand at the outset of the war. Additionally, he mentioned that Russia has recognized the need for security guarantees for Ukraine.

The conflict, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. In exchange for a cessation of hostilities, Putin is reportedly demanding that Ukraine relinquish control of the eastern Donbas region, abandon its NATO aspirations, maintain neutrality, and exclude Western troops from its territory.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a separate interview, suggested that a coalition of nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council, should act as guarantors of Ukraine's security.

Vance also addressed the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia, stating that such measures would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. He acknowledged that new sanctions might not effectively compel Russia to agree to a ceasefire. Vance pointed to President Trump's recent announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian goods as a potential strategy for exerting economic pressure on Russia, particularly in light of India's purchases of Russian oil.

"He’s tried to make it clear that Russia can be re-invited into the world economy if they stop the killing, but they’re going to continue to be isolated if they don’t stop the killing," Vance said.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Vance reaffirmed that there would be no deployment of U.S. troops in Ukraine as part of any security guarantees. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukraine has the necessary support to defend itself against further aggression.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed any territorial concessions to Russia, citing constitutional prohibitions against surrendering sovereign land. Lavrov, when asked about Russia's military actions, maintained that the country initiated a "special military operation" to protect individuals in Ukraine who he claimed were marginalized by the Ukrainian government.