US Vice President J.D. Vance has warned that prolonging the conflict in Ukraine for years could lead to catastrophic consequences, including the use of nuclear weapons. In an interview with blogger Charlie Kirk published on April 28, 2025, Vance said:

"If this continues for a few more years, millions of people could die and it could escalate into a nuclear war."

He criticized the mainstream media for spreading the illusion that continued fighting would lead to Russia's defeat and Ukraine's return of all its territories.

«This is not the reality we live in." — Vance emphasized, emphasizing the need for an urgent end to the conflict.

According to Vance, the administration of US President Donald Trump is focused on achieving peace in Ukraine. Trump has tasked his team with using all possible means to return the parties to negotiations. Vance noted that Russia and Ukraine are putting forward their own conditions for a settlement, and the task of diplomacy is to bring their positions closer together.

"The biggest breakthrough was that we got them both talking about what they needed to stop the conflict," " he said, expressing cautious optimism.

He said progress had been made over the past two months and he was more positive than he had been at the start of the year.

Vance's statement comes amid active diplomatic efforts by the United States. On April 25, special presidential envoy Steven Witkoff arrived in Moscow to discuss peace terms with Vladimir Putin, which Trump said reflected pressure on both sides of the conflict. Earlier, on March 11, talks were held in Saudi Arabia with the participation of the head of the Ukrainian presidential office Andriy Yermak, Vance, and national security adviser Mike Walz, where the United States proposed a comprehensive ceasefire.

Vance's concerns about nuclear escalation echo long-standing discussions about the risks of conflict.