Vance Says Us-ukraine Minerals Deal Better Deterrent Of Putin Than 'troops From Some Random Country'

Vice President JD Vance is making the case that a U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal is a more practical deterrent against Russian President Vladimir Putin than an international security force for post-war Ukraine proposed by key allies Britain and France.

Vance said in an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity aired Monday evening that the pact that would give the U.S. 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 comments throw the spotlight again on differences between President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron . The European leaders have called for a post-conflict peacekeeping force in Ukraine to prevent Russia invading again if Moscow and Kyiv reach a truce to put a stop to Russia's invasion , launched in February 2022.

"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.

The Republican vice president did not mention any particular country in his skeptical comments to Hannity about the effectiveness of a potential peacekeeping mission. But in a posting on X on Tuesday, Vance looked to head off any criticism by noting that Britain and France "have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond."