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U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated on August 24 (local time) that while prospects for a summit between Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain, the United States still possesses a variety of sanctions tools to pressure Russia.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that day, Vice President Vance emphasized, “Sanctions are not off the table,” and added, “We still have many cards left to play.”
He acknowledged that the United States cannot directly control Russia’s actions, but cited the example of imposing “secondary tariffs” on India for importing large quantities of Russian oil, describing it as “a method of negotiation.” He continued, “It’s about taking action and having conversations to seek consensus,” indicating that the U.S. intends to move Russia through both pressure and dialogue.
Regarding the absence of separate measures against China, which also imports Russian oil, Vance noted, “We are already imposing a 54% tariff on China and have significant sanctions in place,” and stated that additional measures could be taken if necessary.
Vice President Vance also assessed that both Russia and Ukraine have made certain concessions in recent weeks. He said, “Negotiations inevitably have their ups and downs,” and added, “There have been moments of frustration with Russia, but we will continue to make steady progress.”
Previously, President Trump announced on August 15 that he had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on August 18 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, expressing his intention to coordinate a Russia-Ukraine summit. However, as Russia has demanded a ban on European troops stationed in Ukraine and the abandonment of the entire Donbas region, both sides remain at an impasse even before the summit could be arranged. With criticism mounting that President Putin may be stalling for time once again, analysts believe the United States is raising the level of pressure by invoking additional sanctions against Russia.
On August 22, President Trump warned that if an agreement is not reached within two weeks, “large-scale sanctions and tariffs could be imposed.”
Vice President Vance also commented on the Texas State Senate’s approval of a redistricting plan that could allow the Republican Party to secure up to five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in next year’s election, saying, “It’s about making things a bit more fair nationwide.” He explained, “The Democrats have gerrymandered their states very aggressively. We have an opportunity to counter that, and that’s all we are doing.”
When asked whether he could become President Trump’s successor after Trump’s term ends in 2028, Vance responded, “The President wants me to focus on doing good work for the American people, and that’s what I intend to do as well,” declining to elaborate further.
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