Why Vice President JD Vance Keeps Pushing Russia-Friendly Terms in the War in Ukraine

Vice President JD Vance has repeatedly advocated policies and proposals that reporters and critics say would advantage Russia in its war against Ukraine. Recent reporting around a disputed 28-point proposal — negotiated by developer Steve Witkoff and promoted inside the White House by Vance — has renewed scrutiny of the vice president’s views, his online associations, and the internal dynamics shaping U.S. policy toward Kyiv.

The 28-point plan and how it unfolded

According to multiple accounts, an envoy negotiated a 28-point plan that critics describe as favorable to Moscow. Reporting indicates parts of the proposal used language originating from Russian sources and that Witkoff advised Russian officials on messaging to influence U.S. decision-makers. The administration sent U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — a friend and former classmate of Vance’s — to present the plan to Kyiv. Once details leaked, European governments objected strongly, Kyiv issued a reasoned counterproposal, and the initiative collapsed when Moscow rejected compromises.

Vance's role and rhetoric

Vance emerged as a prominent advocate for the proposal within the White House. He has publicly expressed views that many observers read as sympathetic to Russian aims, including statements suggesting a Russian victory could be inevitable and sharp criticisms of Ukraine and its leaders. In a late-February Oval Office meeting that had been framed around a mining agreement, several accounts reported Vance and the president confronted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a manner that many described as blaming Kyiv for a war started by Russia.

Online ties, ideology and influences

Vance is active on X (formerly Twitter). Journalists examining his activity note he follows roughly a thousand accounts and has engaged with online figures and communities associated with the far right. Reporting has identified accounts he follows that have promoted extremist or discredited ideas; Vance has also circulated intellectual arguments that critics link to white nationalist narratives — notably variants of the "Great Replacement" theme. Analysts say parts of the online right admire Vladimir Putin as a cultural and geopolitical counterweight to Western liberal norms, which helps explain why some activists favor policies that weaken Ukraine's position.

Administration dynamics and consequences

President Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine is often described as transactional: admiration for Putin on the one hand, and a desire to end the war quickly for political and personal gain on the other. Observers argue Vance’s ideological commitments are deeper and more consistent. While the president has at times approved arms transfers and spoken of sanctions, critics warn that Vance may push for more overtly Russia-favorable steps within the administration.

What this means for U.S. policy

The episode illustrates how outside envoys, ideological allies, and informal channels can shape foreign policy. Whether by design or miscalculation, the 28-point episode alienated European partners and strengthened Kyiv’s negotiating position. For U.S. policymakers and the public, the incident raises questions about accountability, the role of nontraditional intermediaries in diplomacy, and how personal ideology and online networks can influence high-stakes international decisions.

Note: This account synthesizes multiple reports and public statements. Where possible, claims are attributed to reporting and observers rather than presented as uncontested fact.