JD Vance praises Ukraine, says Russia's achievement 'getting close to zero'
US Vice President JD Vance (photo: Getty Images)
Offensive operations by Russia are yielding diminishing returns on the battlefield, while Ukraine's defensive strategy is creating the conditions needed to bring the war to an end, said US Vice President JD Vance in an interview with The Times.
Russia's offensive loses momentum
Vice President Vance said the Russian military has reached a point where the benefits of continuing offensive operations are rapidly diminishing.
"The Russians are in a place right now where the amount that they can get through continued offensive operations is vanishingly small—and getting close to zero," he noted.
He added that Moscow is paying a heavy price for every meter of ground it gains.
What this means for peace talks
The US vice president suggested that this trend could create an opening for a diplomatic end to the war.
"That very well may create the space that we need to bring this thing to a close," he said.
According to Vance, the Donald Trump administration is advising Kyiv to maintain the strongest possible defensive posture while Washington continues negotiations.
"What the Trump administration has leaned into is that the Ukrainians, while of course we negotiate, should just be maximally defensive. That approach has borne a lot more fruit because being on defense is easier than being on offense," the vice president said.
Betting on wearing Russia down
Vance stressed that focusing on defense has allowed Ukraine to capitalize on its tactical advantages.
"It's allowed Ukrainians to exploit a little bit more of their tactical advantage. The United States and NATO have encouraged Ukraine to be more focused on defense—and that's proven effective," he said.
The vice president also recalled that when he first began studying this war, it seemed clear to him that the widespread use of drones and surveillance technologies made it more logical for Kyiv to dig in and wear Russia down rather than launch a costly offensive to retake occupied territory.
Previously, in the fall of 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukrainian counteroffensive operations near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where Ukraine's Defense Forces liberated about 160 square kilometers of territory.
Notably, earlier, in April 2026, JD Vance publicly boasted that the United States would end financial support for Ukraine.
