Vance says minerals deal better Russia deterrent than troops from “some random country”

Vance made the comment in a televised interview, Ukrinform reports with reference to ABC News.

The agreement, which will provide the US with access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, “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,” the vice president said.

“The president knows that, look, if you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance added.

But there are a lot of countries, he added, that provide voluntary support, both private or public, but they have neither the combat experience or the military equipment to ensure anything meaningful.

The comment on “random” countries caused discontent and a wave of criticism in London, including among opposition forces, although Vance stopped short of naming any particular nations.

In his post on social media, Vance tried to head off criticism, saying that he never mentioned the UK or France and that these countries “have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously noted that the minerals deal alone is not enough to guarantee Ukraine’s security.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on February 28, the meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and the U.S. at the White House ended early after a heated argument over the facts about the war in Ukraine, as well as trust in words and agreements with Putin. An agreement between the two countries related to minerals extraction was not signed in Washington.

According to media reports, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered to put on pause all American military assistance to Ukraine in order to force Kyiv to demonstrate a “good-faith commitment” to peace.

Photo: Gage Skidmore