US Vice President J.D. Vance. Yonhap News. 

U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a three-way summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated on the 10th (local time).

In an interview with Fox News that day, Vice President Vance explained that the primary reason there had been no progress in mediating an end to the war was because President Putin had refused to meet with President Zelenskyy, adding, "Now, President Trump has changed that (Putin's stance)."

He added, "Frankly, we are now trying to set a schedule for when the three leaders can sit down to discuss the resolution of this conflict."

He observed, "We will try to find a negotiation plan that allows Ukraine and Russia to live in a relative peace where the killing ends. No one will be overwhelmingly satisfied with this. By the time it ends, both Russia and Ukraine will likely be dissatisfied."

When asked if he would prefer President Putin to meet with President Zelenskyy before meeting with President Trump, he replied, "I don't think that would be very productive."

He continued, "I fundamentally believe that the U.S. President should be the one to bring these two together. We will, of course, be in dialogue with Ukraine," he stated.

He emphasized, "Fundamentally, President Trump needs to compel President Putin and President Zelenskyy to sit down properly and resolve their differences," adding, "A decisive leader taking charge and forcing people to meet is the path to peace."

President Trump plans to meet with President Putin in Alaska on the 15th to discuss the issue of ending the war in Ukraine.

Depending on the progress of those talks, there is a possibility that a three-way summit including President Zelenskyy may be held thereafter.

This interview was conducted on the 8th, before Vice President Vance departed from the United States.

The day before, Vice President Vance met with European and Ukrainian officials in London to discuss plans for the meeting with President Putin.

When asked whether additional tariffs would be imposed on China for importing Russian crude oil, Vice President Vance replied that President Trump has not yet made a "firm decision" and is "reviewing his options."

Yonhap News