Vice President J.D. Vance claimed Monday that the White House advised Ukraine to adopt a defensive strategy, a stance that he suggested has proven effective in stalling Russia's advance. Vance told The Times of London that the Trump administration "leaned into" Ukrainians being "maximally defensive," rather than pursuing counteroffensives into Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
"The Russians, they're paying a lot for every square kilometer they get. And I think that's because the United States and NATO have encouraged Ukraine to be more focused on defense — and that's proven effective," Vance said. He added that this approach has allowed Ukraine to "exploit a little bit more of their tactical advantage" and that Russia's offensive gains are now "vanishingly small — and getting close to zero."
Former President Donald Trump echoed a sense of impending resolution, stating on Monday that the war is nearing its end. "President Putin wants it to end, I will tell you that very strongly," Trump said, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also desires an immediate end to the conflict.
Ukrainian Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna indicated that Kyiv appreciates a clear-eyed assessment from Washington but was not aware of specific U.S. efforts to discourage offensive actions. "We appreciate the public outreach related to the real situation on the ground," she told The Post. "It is important that the U.S. government has the same assessment based on the information at their disposal."
Vance's remarks coincide with Ukraine's ongoing campaign of long-range drone attacks within Russia, a strategy that has garnered support from many European leaders. President Zelensky announced on June 25 a 40-day initiative to "compel" Russia to cease its war through deep strikes.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Ukraine has targeted 22 Russian oil refineries this year, some located as far as 2,000 kilometers from the border, systematically disrupting Russia's fuel production and contributing to gasoline shortages.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated in an interview with the Financial Times that NATO leaders support Ukraine's intensified drone strikes on Russian territory. He believes these actions put Ukraine in its strongest position since the war began on February 24, 2022. "I think that [all NATO leaders] understand why Ukraine is doing this," Stubb said. "Everyone believes that we need to continue to increase the pressure."
Stubb suggested that making the war "personal" for Russian citizens could drive them to oppose the conflict, potentially creating an opportunity to return to negotiations. "This gives us an opportunity to get back to the negotiating table, which I think we all desperately want," he remarked. "We all want to end this war."
He also noted that the Trump administration's acknowledgment of Ukraine's battlefield advantage has influenced strategic thinking, including that of peace mediators. "We are in a fairly good place when it comes to Ukraine because everyone, including our American friends, sees that Ukraine is right now on top on the battlefield," Stubb said.
Furthermore, Stubb asserted that integrating Ukraine into NATO would benefit the alliance, a prospect currently on hold until a cease-fire is achieved. "NATO needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs NATO," he stated. "Their capabilities in drones and missiles are superior to those of most members in the alliance."