Trump to speak to Putin with goal of reaching ceasefire in Ukraine, White House says

‘Eventually the US has to say this is not our war’ – Vancepublished at 14:53 British Summer Time

14:53 BST

As we’ve just reported, the White House says talks between JD Vance and Zelensky were “productive”, we’ve been hearing from the US vice-president himself on board Air Force Two.

Ahead of Trump’s upcoming call with Putin, US Vice President JD Vance has said that Washington recognises there is an “impasse” over talks regarding the war in Ukraine.

“I think the president’s going to say to President Putin: ‘Look, are you serious? Are you real about this?'” Vance told reporters aboard Air Force Two, as he prepared to depart Italy.

“Putin does not seem to quite know how to get out of the Ukraine war,” Vance said, adding that if Russia is not willing to move beyond mistakes made in the past, eventually the US has to say “this is not our war”.

“It’s Joe Biden’s war, it’s Vladimir Putin’s war. It’s not our war. We’re gonna try to end it, but if we can end it, we’re eventually gonna say, You know what? That was worth a try, but we’re not doing anymore.”