Russia Is Asking for Too Much to End the War, Says J.D. Vance

War rarely ends neatly. Conflicts drag on. Talks stall. Patience thins.

That is the case now with the war between Russia and Ukraine. The United States wants the fighting to stop.

But ending it has proven to be much harder than expected.

On May 7, U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke about the situation. He was at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington.

Vance said Russia is demanding too much to end the war, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The U.S. is trying to help both sides reach a deal. But peace seems far off.

Russia rejected a recent proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. They said it would only help Ukraine get stronger.

That made it clear they are not ready to pause the fighting. Vance said the Trump administration is growing frustrated. They believe Russia’s demands are unreasonable.

Trump had already suggested a tougher approach in April. He met Ukraine’s President Zelensky in Rome.

After that, Trump said he might use sanctions to pressure Russia. He also said Putin might not want peace at all.

Vance added that the U.S. is not walking away. But it wants both Ukraine and Russia to start real talks.

He said the first step is getting them to agree on the basics. That means setting some ground rules and simply being willing to meet.

He admitted it won’t be easy. The gap between Ukraine and Russia is wide. But he said he is still hopeful.

He does not think the talks are doomed. He also said the U.S. cannot act as a middleman unless both sides are ready.

Vance also tried to ease tensions with Europe. Earlier this year, he had sharply criticized European leaders.

This time, his tone was softer. He said Europe and the U.S. share the same goals. He asked for unity and cooperation.

Some at the event appreciated the new tone. Others had doubts. One attendee said U.S. plans still lack details.

Another said staying neutral between Ukraine and Russia sends the wrong message. One country invaded.

The other is defending itself. No speech can change that.