Washington( The COW News Digital)U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance revealed that Russia has shown rare signs of flexibility in ongoing talks to end the nearly three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine, marking what could be a significant shift in the conflict’s trajectory.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Vance stated that during recent discussions with President Donald Trump, Russian officials expressed willingness to negotiate on several key issues. According to Vance, this is the first time since the war began that Moscow has softened its long-standing demands.
“Russia has acknowledged the importance of preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” Vance said. “They also conceded that establishing a puppet regime in Kyiv is no longer a viable goal.”
The Vice President emphasized that while Russia’s new stance signals progress, it does not mean the war is on the verge of ending. “Moscow is not fully ready to end hostilities, but the fact that they are even open to talks on conditions is a major development,” he noted.
Vance also confirmed that Russia accepted the principle of providing security guarantees to Ukraine, a long-standing demand from Kyiv and its Western allies. Such guarantees, analysts suggest, could form the basis for future peace negotiations, though no concrete framework has yet been agreed upon.
At the same time, the U.S. administration is weighing its options for further economic pressure. Vance hinted at the possibility of new sanctions against Russia, but clarified that such measures would be carefully assessed based on how the situation evolves.
Meanwhile, Moscow struck a conciliatory tone in response to American claims. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia respects President Donald Trump, crediting him for defending “American interests” while maintaining direct lines of communication with Moscow.
Diplomatic observers note that this apparent shift in tone could be tied to the war’s mounting costs for Russia, both economically and militarily, as well as its growing international isolation. Still, skepticism remains high, as previous attempts at peace talks have broken down over disagreements on territory and sovereignty.
For now, Washington views Moscow’s remarks as an encouraging, though cautious, step toward reducing hostilities. Whether this opening leads to a meaningful peace process will depend on the next round of negotiations.
