Vance Explains, Trump Wants Joint Economic Ventures with Russia as Vital for Peace

Sept. 11—U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance stated Sept. 9, contrary to the reports from the BBC, Financial Times and The Telegraph, that President Trump does not view attempts to isolate Russia economically as a sustainable strategy. Rather, economic cooperation involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington could be the key for a stable peace in Eastern Europe.

He was asked by OAN host and former Congressman Matt Gaetz: “Do you see economic cooperation with Russia as one of the things that could bring an end to some of the hostilities that we want to see concluded?” to which Vance replied, “Absolutely, and it’s one of the carrots we’ve thrown out there.” President Trump “doesn’t see any reason why we should economically isolate Russia, except for the continuation of the conflict.” While Trump “wants the killing to stop,” he is also “very open to a whole host of economic arrangements that are beneficial to the United States of America...

“Let’s be honest, whether you like or dislike Russia, whether you agree or disagree with their underlying arguments for the conflict, the simple fact is they have a lot of oil, they’ve got a lot of gas, they’ve got a lot of mineral wealth…. [O]nce we get this peace settled, we could have a very productive economic relationship with both Russia and Ukraine…. Frankly, if we had a better relationship economically in Eastern Europe, it might actually be the best guarantee of a long-term peace.”