Russia cannot count on territories that it has not conquered — Vance

Russia cannot count on the territories of Ukraine that it has not yet conquered. This was stated in an interview with Fox News by US Vice President Jay Dee Vance.

This is how Vance answered a question regarding his statement yesterday at the Munich Security Conference that Russia, in fact, demands too much as part of a deal to resolve the Ukrainian conflict.

Vance was asked what the United States should do now — to get away from this situation or, conversely, to increase military support for Ukraine.

"Let's see how things will develop, of course... we knew that Russia would demand too much, because, from Russia's point of view, what is happening on earth is their victory. And of course, Ukrainians would like a truce, partly because the last few months have been going badly for them.

Our position is this: we do not want Ukraine to collapse. Obviously, we want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country. But Russia cannot expect to be given territories that it has not even captured. And that's what was spelled out in their original peace plan," said Vance, quoted by the publication "Country".

He called progress the very fact that "Russians and Ukrainians have started talking at all," that "concrete proposals for peace have appeared on the table."

"We knew from the very beginning that the first Russian proposal would be excessive. We knew that they would demand more than it is reasonable to give... it doesn't bother me. I would be concerned if we came to the conclusion that Russia is negotiating in bad faith. And if that happens, yes, we will step aside... and this, in fact, will mean that and Russia and Ukraine will be left alone, without the advice and mediation of the United States. I don't think it's good for anyone. This is not good for us, for Russia, or for Ukraine. We will continue to work until we realize that further progress is impossible," the vice president added.