Zelenskyy rebukes Vance remarks on Ukraine territory, says he lacks negotiation insight

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday responded to comments by US Vice President JD Vance regarding territorial negotiations, saying the American official is not directly involved in the talks and may not fully understand the stakes.

Zelenskyy criticised Vance’s suggestion that disputes over “a few square kilometres” were not significant, stressing that such remarks overlook the reality of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

“With all due respect, the Vice President is not participating in negotiations between the United States, Ukraine and Russia. If he and others were involved, they might better understand what is meant by a ‘small piece’ and what constitutes the territory of independent Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

He emphasised that Russia has long pursued the occupation of Ukrainian territory, describing it as a consistent strategic objective.

“The occupation of the east is an opportunity to prepare a foothold for further offensive actions,” he added.

Vance had earlier questioned the logic of disputes over limited territories while commenting on efforts to end the war, suggesting that both Kyiv and Moscow would need to reach an agreement independently.