JD Vance has spoken out after he attracted widespread criticism for his comments on a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine where he spoke of ‘a random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 years’.

The US Vice President was called out for speaking to Fox News about possible security guarantees for Ukraine, where he yesterday (3 March) claimed that if the invaded country wants to be safe from future Russian aggression it should give the US economic reasons to care.

He said: “The president knows that if you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.

“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.

“The security guarantee and also the economic guarantee for Ukraine is to rebuild the country and ensure that America has a long-term interest.”

Vance has claimed he wasn’t actually talking about the UK or France, so which country was it JD? (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have both pledged to send thousands of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees for the nation, so one might expect that when JD Vance spoke of ‘some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years’ he was referring to either the UK or France.

However, Vance has rowed back to yesterday’s comments and claimed on Twitter that it was ‘absurdly dishonest’ to suggest that his comments on a country that would send peacekeeping troops referred to either of the two countries that said they’d send peacekeeping troops.

He wrote: “This is absurdly dishonest.

“I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.

“But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering (privately or publicly) support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful.”

Which country JD Vance was therefore referring to is unclear, as is the point he was trying to make if it’s not directed at a particular country.

The United States just paused military aid to Ukraine, a move welcomed by the Russian invaders (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Starmer praised the work done by British troops, often fighting alongside the US, adding: “Our focus, once again, is on how we protect our national interests and global security by progressing the discussions to secure a lasting peace for Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is still ‘ready to sign’ a deal which would grant the US rights to valuable mineral resources in Ukraine.

He said: “We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns.

“We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.”

The US today (4 March) paused military aid to Ukraine, saying that help for the country in the face of Russian aggression would be ‘reviewed’ in order to ‘ensure that it is contributing to a solution’.

America’s decision to halt aid for Ukraine was welcomed by Russia, with Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov telling the BBC: “If the US stops, or pauses these supplies, this will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”

Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, as overnight they sent 99 drones targeting Odesa, Sumy and Donetsk, damaging power infrastructure and a children’s medical facility.

Rishi Sunak will no longer be the country’s prime minister.

After what has proven to be a pretty embarrassing sweep of results for the Tories, the Labour party has won the general election.

Sir Keir Starmer will now start to pack up his things – if he hasn’t already – and make the move to No.10 Downing Street.

But while he managed to keep hold of his own seat, Sunak suffered the indignity of being pranked by one of his fellow candidates in his Richmond seat.

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BREAKING: After Britain Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s historic loss on July 4th, YouTube prankster and fellow candidate Niko Omilana held an L sign to mock him ON NATIONAL TV This is absolutely hilarious 😂😂

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9:02 PM · Jul 4, 2024

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In footage from the count, YouTuber, Niko Omilana – who previously ran to become London mayor – was seen holding a piece of paper with an ‘L’ written across it.

And it’s safe to say people found it very, very funny indeed.

Sharing a clip on social media, one viewer said: “After Britain Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s historic loss on July 4th, YouTube prankster and fellow candidate Niko Omilana held an L sign to mock him ON NATIONAL TV.

“This is absolutely hilarious.”

Ouch. (PA)

While the man himself, Omilana, wrote: ‘Farewell Rishi, hold this L.”

This comes after Sunak conceded defeat in this year’s general election.

In a statement to supporters, he apologised for the loss, and took responsibility for it.

“The Labour Party has won this general election, and I’ve called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” he said.

“Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country’s stability and future.

“The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn… and I take responsibility for the loss.

“To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry.”

Sunak leaving the count. (PA)

On the flip side of that, though, Starmer was very happy with the outcome.

He told supporters: “You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived: change begins now.

“It feels good, I have to be honest. Four and a half years of work changing the party, this is is what it is for: a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people.

“And now we can look forward, walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”

After being accused of ‘gambling with World War III’ by Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out in an interview.

The Ukrainian president didn’t apologise for the exchange as he said he wanted the US to ‘be more on our side’.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office yesterday (28 February) as talks descended into a heated argument.

He ended up leaving the White House early, putting plans for the US and Ukraine to sign a minerals agreement on hold with their joint press conference cancelled.

A video from the meeting features Trump telling Zelenskyy: “You either make a deal or we are out. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”

And he then slams: “You’re not in a very good position, you’ve allowed yourself to be in a bad position… you don’t have the cards right now… you’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War III!”

Having taken to X afterwards to thank America for the ‘support’, Zelenskyy wrote: “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

He also spoke out on the meeting in an interview with Fox News, saying he is confident the relationship with Trump can be salvaged.

“Because it’s relations more than two presidents. It’s the historical relations, strong relations between our people, and that’s why I always began… to thank your people from our people,” he explained.

Things got heated between the pair (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“Of course, thankful to the president, and, of course, to Congress, but first of all, to your people. Your people helped save our people… we wanted very much to have all these strong relations, and where it counted, we will have it.”

Zelenskyy said the whole exchange was ‘bad for both sides’ but that he is ‘not sure that we did something bad’.

“I just want to be honest, and I just want our partners to understand the situation correctly, and I want to understand everything correctly. That’s about us not to lose our friendship,” he added.

Trump also shared a statement about the tense meeting on his Truth Social platform.

Zelenskyy says he thinks things can be salvaged (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

He said: “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Former president and deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev also shared a shocking statement on X: “The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And @realDonaldTrump is right: The Kiev regime is ‘gambling with WWIII’.”

A Kremlin representative has spoken on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparent willingness to negotiate with Russia after Donald Trump read out a letter from the Ukrainian President in Congress.

Last week (February 28), US President Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia among other things.

The conversation escalated, with the Republican leader claiming the country did not ‘have the cards’ to rally against Vladimir Putin’s forces, and that Zelenskyy was ‘gambling with World War III’.

“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people”, Trump said. “You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”

Trump also promised to pause all military aid to Ukraine—a move Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said was the ‘best contribution to the cause of peace’.

Following Zelenskyy’s early exit from the White House and the cancellation of his and Trump’s joint press conference, the politician issued a letter to the 47th President of the United States.

This note was read out to Congress in Washington yesterday (March 4) and stated: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.

“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.”

President Donald Trump claims peace talks with Russia have previously taken place (Andrew Harnik/Getty Image)

Trump went on to read that Ukraine is also ‘ready’ to sign the agreement on rare earth minerals at ‘any’ time convenient to the US – an agreement they were supposed to sign during Zelenskyy’s visit, before getting into a heated discussion.

“It’s time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” The Apprentice star remarked.

He also claimed there had already been ‘serious discussions’ about peace with Russia, but it is not known when these conversations took place.

Now, it appears Moscow is looking favourably on the Ukraine leader’s willingness to ‘come to the negotiating table’.

“We are positive. The question is with whom to sit at the negotiating table,” Peskov said.

He noted that it was not currently clear how these talks would take place, due to a 2022 decree declaring that Ukraine would not negotiate with Russian leader Putin.

“For now, the legal ban by the Ukrainian President holding talks with the Russian side is in force.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has issued a statement following the Ukranian’s letter (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Overall, the approach is positive, but the details have not changed yet.”

Sky News reports that a Russian drone attack was launched last night (4 March) on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing a 77-year-old woman and injuring three others.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the woman died of shrapnel wounds on the outskirts of the city, and that the drones had damaged private homes and started fires.

In retaliation, Ukraine’s air force has stated it shot down 115 of the 181 drones fired in the overnight attack.