He has also stressed that Ukraine is on an “irreversible” path to Nato membership, which contrasted with the language used by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that Nato membership would not be part of a deal to end the war which Putin launched almost three years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to meet Mr Vance in Munich on Friday after Donald Trump startled US allies by calling Vladimir Putin and announcing the start of talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president has been publicly cordial about Trump’s call with the Russian president but also warned world leaders against “trusting Putin’s claims of readiness to end the war”.
US Vice President JD Vance has appeared to float the idea that America could send soldiers to Ukraine if Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate a peace deal in good faith.
Former British Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace has said there is a “stench” of Nazi “appeasement” hanging over the Trump-Putin talks as world leaders were gathering in Munich to discuss the Ukraine conflict.
