United States Vice President JD Vance has denied any criticism directed at the United Kingdom and France over their proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Vance took to social media platform X to address the controversy, asserting that it was "absurdly dishonest" to suggest he had specifically referenced these countries. This clarification came after remarks made by Vance during an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity on Monday evening, where he discussed an economic pact with Kyiv sought by former President Donald Trump.
The proposal for a European peacekeeping force, publicly supported by the UK and France, aims to secure a resolution between Moscow and Kyiv. However, Vance's statements have drawn sharp criticism from both nations. French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party expressed disapproval, emphasizing the valor of French and British soldiers who have fought alongside American troops.
“The French and British soldiers who died fighting terrorism, who fought and sometimes died alongside American soldiers, deserve better than the disdain of the American vice president” – French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party
In response to these criticisms, Vance attempted to clarify his position on X, but reiterated skepticism over the feasibility of what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer termed "a coalition of the willing" intended to police any ceasefire in Ukraine. This notion of a coalition has become a point of contention, as Vance argued for a more robust security guarantee than what he perceived as a symbolic deployment of troops.
“a coalition of the willing” – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
“is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years” – United States Vice President JD Vance
In the UK, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, voiced strong opposition to Vance's comments. Obese-Jecty criticized the perceived disrespect towards service personnel who have sacrificed alongside American forces.
“The disrespect shown by the new US vice president to the sacrifices of our service personnel is unacceptable” – Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty
Moreover, Johnny Mercer, a British veteran and former junior defense minister, labeled Vance as a "clown," reflecting widespread discontent among UK politicians and veterans. The backlash comes amid concerns that Vance's remarks have dishonored hundreds of troops who fought together with US forces in previous conflicts.
Vance's commentary coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently left the White House without signing a proposed deal. Meanwhile, Trump's earlier decisions to cut off military aid to Kyiv and negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin continue to influence the geopolitical landscape.
