Kathrine Frich
Donald Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine “in one day,” projecting an image of a leader uniquely positioned to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the table.
But nearly a year back in office, the conflict has proven far more complex, and the strain is beginning to show publicly.
Nowhere is that clearer than in Vice President JD Vance’s admission that the inability to secure a peace agreement stands as his biggest disappointment so far.
A persistent deadlock
In an interview with NBS News, Vance was asked to reflect on the most frustrating challenge of his time in office.
He immediately pointed to the unresolved war between Russia and Ukraine, describing it as an issue that has weighed heavily on the administration.
“Oh, man. I mean, look, the Russia-Ukraine thing has been a source of perennial frustration, I think, for the entire White House,” he said.
He added that Trump long believed the conflict would be among the easiest global crises to settle.
“And if you would put, you know, peace in the Middle East as easier to achieve than peace in Eastern Europe, I would have told you you were crazy.”
Vance’s remarks reflect how far the outcome has diverged from Trump’s original promise of swift resolution.
Signs of movement, but no breakthrough
Despite ongoing deadlock, Vance said he remains optimistic that the situation is not static.
“I do think, for what it’s worth, that we have made a lot of progress, but we’re not yet quite across the finish line there,” he explained.
He suggested that “hopefully” there could be encouraging developments “in the next few weeks.”
His comments come as the administration accelerates behind-the-scenes diplomacy, though concrete results have yet to emerge.
High-level talks with Moscow
Vance’s interview follows the latest round of discussions involving Trump’s special envoy Steven Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
According to Trump, both men believe Russian President Vladimir Putin “would like to end the war.”
On 2 December, Putin met with Witkoff and Kushner for almost five hours.
Media reports have suggested that the US side was preparing to signal its readiness to recognise Russia’s de facto control of occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a potential peace deal.
Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the details of the talks.
Sources: NBS News, Ukrainska Pravda
