The United States is prepared to escalate military and economic pressure on Russia if Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate an end to the war, US Vice President J.D. Vance told the Wall Street Journal.
Vance warned that if Russia disrupts upcoming peace talks, the US would impose new sanctions and consider deploying American troops to Ukraine — a move that would mark a dramatic shift in US policy.
"There are economic levers of pressure, there are certainly military levers of pressure," Vance stated, adding that the Trump administration is working to convince Putin that diplomacy is a better option than continued war.
He also suggested that resetting relations with Russia could benefit both sides, noting that Moscow’s growing dependence on Beijing makes it a junior partner to China—a situation Putin would likely want to avoid.
What Would a Peace Deal Look Like?
While the parameters of a potential agreement remain unclear, Vance acknowledged that any deal would involve hard choices for both Ukraine and Russia. He declined to specify whether the US would accept Russia retaining control of occupied Ukrainian territory or what kind of security guarantees Kyiv would receive.
“There are any number of formulations, configurations, but we care about Ukraine remaining sovereign and independent,” Vance said.
He also hinted that Trump may surprise the world with his approach to negotiations.
“I think this will result in a deal that will shock a lot of people,” he warned.
Following Trump’s first official phone call with Putin on February 12, the US president announced two high-level meetings to discuss ending the war. The first is set for February 14 at the Munich Security Conference, and another will take place next week in Saudi Arabia.
However, Kyiv has ruled out meeting with Russian representatives in Munich, insisting that Ukraine must first coordinate its position with the US and European allies before any direct talks with Moscow.
With tensions escalating and Washington openly considering military intervention, the coming days could be decisive for Ukraine, Russia, and global security.
