War in Ukraine not ending ‘any time soon’ – JD Vance

US Vice-President JD Vance stated that the war in Ukraine will not end soon. He spoke during an interview with Fox News. Vance emphasized the need for the US to help Russia and Ukraine find common ground. However, he noted that it is ultimately up to both countries to reach an agreement.

His comments followed a deal between Washington and Kyiv. The deal involves sharing profits from Ukraine's rare earth minerals for future US security assistance.

In the interview, Vance defended Trump's approach to the conflict. He acknowledged Ukrainian anger over the invasion but questioned continued military losses over territory disputes. Trump suggested that Ukraine might consider ceding Crimea for a truce. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated he could not accept Russian control of Crimea due to constitutional reasons.

In another Fox News interview, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for a breakthrough in the conflict soon. He warned that Trump would need to decide how much time to dedicate if progress isn't made.

This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary three-day ceasefire starting May 8. This coincides with World War Two anniversary celebrations. In response, Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire.

Despite these announcements, fighting has continued between both nations. On Thursday night, a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia injured 14 people but resulted in no deaths. Meanwhile, Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting a market in southern Russia with drones on the same day. According to Russian officials, seven people were killed and over 20 injured in that incident. Kyiv denied these accusations and stated their attack was aimed at military personnel only.