Russia's grinding offensive is delivering ever-smaller gains while costing Moscow dearly, US Vice President JD Vance has said, arguing that Ukraine's defensive strategy is shifting the balance of the war and could open the door to a negotiated settlement. In an interview with The Times, Vance said Russian forces are paying an increasingly heavy price for every kilometre they capture, with battlefield momentum now working against the Kremlin rather than in its favour. Russiaâs Offensive Hits a Wall Vance said the Kremlin has reached a point where further offensive operations are producing sharply diminishing returns. "The Russians are in a place right now where the amount that they can get through continued offensive operations is vanishingly smallâand getting close to zero," he said. He added that every stretch of territory captured is coming at a significant cost in troops and equipment. Defence Strategy Shifts the Equation The vice president argued that Ukraine's focus on defence has proved far more effective than launching costly assaults to reclaim occupied territory. According to Vance, the Trump administration has encouraged Kyiv to remain "maximally defensive" while diplomatic efforts continue. He said that approach has allowed Ukrainian forces to exploit tactical advantages, insisting that defending fortified positions is easier than sustaining large-scale offensive operations. Drones Change the Battlefield Vance said modern warfare has fundamentally altered the conflict, with drones and constant surveillance making entrenched defensive positions more effective than sweeping counteroffensives. He said he had long believed Ukraine would benefit more from wearing Russian forces down than attempting expensive, high-risk assaults across heavily defended front lines. Peace Talks Gain Fresh Momentum Vance suggested Russia's slowing advance could create the conditions needed for meaningful negotiations to end the war. His comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced counteroffensive operations near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk in late 2025, with Ukrainian forces recapturing around 160 square kilometres in the Donetsk region. The remarks also mark a notable contrast with Vance's earlier position. In April 2026, he publicly declared that the United States would end financial support for Ukraine, underscoring the continuing political debate in Washington over the long-term direction of US backing for Kyiv. JD Vance praises Ukraine, says Russia's achievement 'getting close to zero'
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