Vance Warns U.S. will Exit Peace Talks if Moscow, Kyiv Fail to Act on Ceasefire Proposal

On a diplomatic visit to India, U.S. Vice President JD Vance issued his starkest warning yet to Moscow and Kyiv: agree to a ceasefire, or risk losing Washington’s support in brokering an end to the war.

“We’ve put forth a clear and direct proposal to both Russia and Ukraine,” Vance told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday. “The time for deliberation is over. Either they come to the table in good faith—or the United States will withdraw from this mediation effort.”

Vance’s comments come as international envoys from the U.S., Ukraine, and European partners gather in London for renewed negotiations aimed at halting Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year.

“We’re nearing a decisive juncture,” Vance continued. “If this isn’t the final step, it is certainly one of the last. The parties must be willing to declare an end to hostilities and agree to freeze territorial lines more or less where they stand today.”

Acknowledging the contentious nature of such a deal, Vance added: “This will require painful compromises on both sides. Neither Ukraine nor Russia will walk away with all the territory they currently control. But the alternative is continued bloodshed.”

Vance’s statement reflects mounting frustration in Washington, where President Donald Trump—who once vowed on the campaign trail to end the war within 24 hours—has yet to extract meaningful concessions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In March, Trump proposed an unconditional ceasefire, a framework Kyiv was willing to explore. However, the Kremlin flatly rejected it. A separate 30-day agreement to halt attacks on critical energy infrastructure, initially seen as a modest breakthrough, has also collapsed after Moscow declared the moratorium expired.

As diplomacy teeters on the brink, Vance’s message is clear: The window for peace is closing, and the United States is prepared to walk away if neither side is ready to act.