Vance on US not pressuring Russia: ‘I don’t think that’s right’

Vice President Vance pushed back Tuesday at a question that suggested the U.S. wasn't putting pressure on Russia to end the war with Ukraine, days after he and President Trump sharply criticized Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky in a stunning Oval Office meeting.

As the vice president took questions from reporters at a Senate office building on Tuesday, one reporter said there has not been that much pressure on Russia.

“Well, I don’t think that’s right, actually,” Vance replied. “I mean, we still have a number of sanctions that are placed on Russians.

"We do believe the Russians economically are struggling because of this conflict. We believe it is Russia’s best interest and United States and Ukraine best interest to bring this conflict to a close. We believe applying pressure to everybody to stop the killing. That’s what the president’s policy is," Vance said.

Trump and Vance have been accused by Democrats and other critics of doing Russia's bidding in pressuring Ukraine into a deal that would see that country lose territory.

That criticism has picked up in the last few days after Trump paused aid Monday evening to Ukraine, a decision that followed the White House blow-up where the president accused Zelensky of not having any cards to play in a geo-strategic game over Ukraine's future.

The fight with Zelensky before television cameras broadcasting to the world came after Vance accused Zelensky of behaving rudely and said he should be more thankful of U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump also jumped in, taking offense when Zelensky said the trouble with Russia could eventually come to U.S. shores.

The public battle rattled allies of the United States, who have worked to try to find ways to support Ukraine if the U.S. completely pulls support.

Most Republicans in Congress have backed Trump, with a handful of exceptions. Democrats have sharply criticized Trump's handling of the meeting and the issue of the war more generally.

Vance also was asked about the explosive meeting, and said that he “certainly” believes that the mineral deal with Ukraine in which that country would give up some of its natural resources to the United States to repay its support during the war can still be reached. It had been expected that this deal would be signed last Friday, but any plans to do so were put off after the Oval Office clash.

Vance also argued Zelensky needs to return to the private negotiating table instead of making public announcements and hosting meetings with other countries.

“We need the Ukrainians privately to come to us say, ‘this is what we need, this is what we want, this is how we’re going to participate in the process to end this conflict,’” Vance said.

“That is the most important thing, and that lack of private engagement is what is most concerning to us,” he added.