Ukraine War Could Trigger Nuclear Conflict, Kill Millions – Vance

US Vice President JD Vance issued a warning about the long-term risks of Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine, saying millions more could die, with the risk of the conflict escalating into nuclear war the longer it drags on.

Speaking to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Vance dismissed the notion that prolonging the war would result in a Ukrainian victory or Russia’s collapse.

“I think there’s this weird idea among the mainstream media that if this thing goes on for just another few years, the Russians will collapse, the Ukrainians will take their territory back, and everything will go back to the way that it was before the war,” Vance said. “That is not the reality that we live in.”

“If this thing goes on for another few years, we could have societies collapsing, the demographics of both of these countries are a nightmare, you could have millions of more people killed if this thing goes on for another few years, and it could risk escalating into a nuclear war.”

Vance confirmed that negotiations are underway between Washington and, separately, with both Kyiv and Moscow, though he did not offer details.

“Sometimes you’re incredibly frustrated with Ukrainians, sometimes you’re incredibly frustrated with the Russians,” he said.

“You’re just gonna have to keep on. Sometimes you apply pressure, sometimes you’re a little bit more friendly, sometimes you offer rewards, sometimes you offer punishments.”

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Despite the complexities, Vance said the Trump administration is working hard to end the war.

“It has to stop. It is the policy of this administration that it stops, and I guarantee you the president is having all of his people, including me, work very hard for that end goal,” Vance added.

However, on Monday, after a week of attacks against civilian targets, Russia once again reiterated its maximalist conditions for ending the war, offering no new proposals.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said any deal must include international recognition of Russian control over Crimea and the four partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Other demands include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, adopting a neutral status, and making internal changes on language, religion, and military policy. Lavrov also insisted on lifting Western sanctions, returning frozen Russian assets, and granting Moscow security guarantees.

The comments come amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire, with leaked documents revealing a gap between US proposals and Ukrainian red lines – particularly towards any territorial concessions, which Kyiv has firmly rejected.