Vice President JD Vance has drawn significant attention after praising Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demeanor during a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Vance described Putin as more soft-spoken than American media portrayals suggest, while also revealing details about recent diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine.
During the interview, Vance indicated he has never met Putin in person but has spoken with the Russian leader several times over the phone. He characterized Putin as deliberate and careful in his approach, noting that Putin fundamentally looks out for Russian interests as he sees them. Vance suggested that Putin respects President Donald Trump because he believes Trump similarly prioritizes American interests.
The vice president’s comments came as part of broader discussions about ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Vance referenced a failed Alaska summit between Trump and Putin the previous week, where the leaders were unable to reach agreement on a ceasefire. He also described a February Oval Office meeting where he confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about showing insufficient gratitude for U.S. aid.
Vance recounted what he called an icebreaker comment made to Zelensky during Monday’s White House meeting. He told the Ukrainian president: “Mr. President, so long as you behave, I won’t say anything.” According to Vance, Zelensky chuckled at the remark, though critics on social media characterized the comment as condescending and disrespectful.
The vice president provided insight into Trump’s unconventional diplomatic approach during the Monday White House meeting with European leaders. Vance described how Trump surprised European officials by announcing his intention to call Putin immediately after their discussions, despite European concerns about proper vetting and preparation protocols. Trump reportedly insisted on speaking directly with the Russian leader to gauge his response to the day’s negotiations.
Vance’s positive characterization of Putin quickly gained traction on Russian state media. Russia Today, the state-controlled television network banned in several Western countries, shared clips from Vance’s interview on social media platforms. The Russian outlet highlighted Vance’s description of Putin as soft-spoken and deliberate.
The ongoing diplomatic efforts involve complex negotiations between multiple parties. Vance acknowledged that Ukrainians seek security guarantees to prevent future Russian invasions, while Russians want control over certain territories, most of which they currently occupy. He emphasized that while progress has been made in getting both sides to discuss details, significant issues remain unresolved.
Trump has claimed potential breakthroughs following Monday’s meetings with Zelensky and European leaders, where security guarantees were discussed. Zelensky reportedly agreed to a trilateral meeting with Putin, prompting Trump to call the Russian leader. However, the White House later appeared to walk back claims about assured bilateral meetings.
European officials have expressed varying levels of optimism about the negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron indicated participants were willing to arrange a bilateral Putin-Zelensky meeting within days, followed by a trilateral meeting including Trump within two to three weeks. However, Macron also expressed doubt about Putin’s genuine willingness to end the conflict.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s negotiation efforts and suggested that Article 5-style security guarantees for Ukraine were under discussion. These guarantees would provide collective defense protections similar to NATO membership without formal alliance inclusion. Rutte emphasized that Trump’s involvement was crucial in breaking the diplomatic deadlock.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its military operations in Ukraine despite ongoing diplomatic discussions. Recent attacks involved more than 600 drones and missiles targeting locations across Ukraine, including western regions far from the front lines. The strikes reached Lviv and reportedly hit an American electronics manufacturer near the Hungarian border, wounding more than a dozen people.
Trump has positioned himself as uniquely capable of brokering peace between the warring nations, having campaigned on promises to end the conflict quickly. He has suggested that resolving the Ukraine war could help him achieve his goal of winning a Nobel Peace Prize and even joked about it helping him get into heaven. However, the complexity of the negotiations has proven greater than his initial campaign promises suggested.
