Russian President Vladimir Putin is more of a "competitor" or "adversary" to the United States than an enemy, Republican senator and vice presidential candidate JD Vance said in an interview with NBC News.
Vance's comments come just over a week before the US presidential election, which carries high stakes for the future of US military support for Ukraine.
"I think he's clearly an opponent. He's a competitor," Vance said when asked if he considered Putin an ally or an enemy.
“But I think we have to be smart about diplomacy as well. "Just because we don't like someone doesn't mean we can't have a conversation with them from time to time," the politician added.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's relationship with Putin has come under increased scrutiny in recent years in light of allegations that he had numerous phone calls with the Russian president after leaving the White House.
Trump often touted his good relationship with Putin on the campaign trail and blamed US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Russia's full-scale invasion without mentioning Putin. He has repeatedly called Zelensky a "merchant" who should "make a deal" with Russia.
Vance said talks with Moscow are a "necessary part" of ending the war in Ukraine.
"I think it's important that if we ever want to end the war in Ukraine, basically, at some level, we're going to have to engage in some kind of negotiation between Ukraine, between Russia, between our NATO allies in Europe," he said .
Vance did not elaborate on the potential outcomes of those talks, but previously said Trump's peace plan could include the creation of a so-called "demilitarized zone" between Ukraine and Russia, possibly resembling the current demarcation line between the countries.
Zelensky called Vance's plan "too radical" and stressed that he does not accept plans to end the war that could harm Ukraine.
Vance has repeatedly said he "doesn't care about Ukraine," including just days after Russia's full-scale invasion began. | BGNES
