RANDOM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES!! Vance’s Remarks on Ukraine Peacekeeping Spark Tension Amongst Allies
Vance dismissed the idea of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine by referring to them as “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Vice President JD Vance has ignited a diplomatic spat with the UK and France after dismissing a proposed peacekeeping force for post-war Ukraine as less effective than a US-Ukraine minerals deal. In a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity on Monday, Vance argued that tighter economic ties with Kyiv—specifically access to Ukraine’s critical minerals like titanium and lithium—offer a stronger deterrent against Russian aggression than “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Though Vance didn’t name specific nations, his “random country” remark drew sharp rebukes from London and Paris, where officials saw it as a slight against their military contributions alongside the US in conflicts like Afghanistan and Iraq over the past two decades. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who are pushing for a European-led peacekeeping mission to secure Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, were indirectly implicated.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, called Vance “wrong, wrong, wrong,” highlighting Britain’s proportional sacrifices in Afghanistan. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu noted Vance’s subsequent clarification, where the vice president praised both nations’ bravery on social media Tuesday, but tensions lingered. In London, Liberal Democrat Helen Maguire demanded an apology, citing the deaths of British troops who “fought shoulder to shoulder” with Americans.
Vance’s comments come amid President Donald Trump’s push to pause US aid to Ukraine, pressuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate with Russia. A planned minerals deal, intended to bolster US-Ukraine ties and offset war aid costs, fell apart last week after a contentious Oval Office meeting. Trump still touts the pact as “a great deal,” set to address it in Congress Tuesday.
Starmer, however, insists minerals alone won’t secure Ukraine, advocating for US-backed European peacekeepers. The spat underscores broader transatlantic friction as Trump’s administration prioritizes economic leverage over traditional military commitments, leaving allies wary of Washington’s next move.
