J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, noted that both Russia and Ukraine are "exhausted" from the ongoing conflict, explaining that Ukraine might eventually contemplate surrendering some territories in pursuit of peace.

The US vice-presidential candidate made these statements on Thursday during a News Nation town hall, where he discussed issues in the US such as abortion, migration, and housing costs. He also referenced the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, claiming that both sides are "exhausted" and seeking ways to end the fighting.

He claimed, “They’re both struggling to find men, because primarily men are in those countries that are fighting the war. But they’re struggling to find women, too. They’re struggling to get the equipment necessary to send to the front lines. Their economies are exhausted. Whole parts of their country have been destroyed."

To bring an end to the hostilities, Vance explained that both Moscow and Kiev should make certain concessions. When asked if he believed Ukraine might eventually have to cede some territory to Russia, he suggested that it could ultimately be a decision for Kiev to consider.

“When you talk to… Ukrainian leaders, especially in private but even in public, they're starting to say this now. They’re saying this can’t go on forever. They don’t have the manpower, they don’t have the equipment, they don’t have the money. And so, I think ultimately… Ukraine is going to have to make that decision,” he stated.

Vance shed light on the importance of engaging in diplomacy, stressing that Russia would also have to “make the decision about what it will do to stop the fighting, adding that one does not necessarily have to “like Russia,” but it is necessary for Moscow and Kiev to come to an agreement. 

On that note, Kiev has consistently declined to engage in any substantial negotiations, with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky explicitly ruling out his participation in such discussions. In contrast, Moscow has repeatedly expressed its willingness to negotiate in order to resolve the conflict and bring it to a conclusion.

Trump vows to end US involvement in Ukraine 

Late last month, Trump, in a speech delivered on Tuesday in Georgia, criticized the Biden administration's approach to the ongoing Ukraine war.

Trump argued that the United States needs to end its involvement in the war, claiming that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lack a viable exit strategy.

"Biden and Kamala got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can't get us out. They can't get us out," Trump stated, emphasizing his belief that the current administration had failed in its efforts to manage US engagement in the war.

Read next: US not ruling out territory trade in Ukraine war

While the US has not publically deployed troops to Ukraine, it has provided billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to support the country's defense against Russia.

He also highlighted his own plan to resolve the conflict if he were elected president, asserting that he could bring about a swift resolution. 

"I think that we're stuck in that war unless I'm president. I'll get it done. I'll get it negotiated, I'll get out. We gotta get out," he proclaimed. He further criticized Biden's stance, quoting the president as saying, "We will not leave until we win."

Ukraine incursion in Kursk struggles

Vance's statement comes after a report by The Washington Post (WP) on Friday said, "As President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled through Europe and the United States to promote his 'victory plan' aimed at resolving the war with Russia, Ukrainian forces encountered significant setbacks on the battlefield."

Analysts indicated that Russian forces may have been driven back in up to half of the territory that Kiev originally captured during its summer offensive into Russia’s Kursk region. According to WP, this concerning shift calls into question the effectiveness of Ukraine’s military strategy amid the ongoing conflict.
 
The incursion into Russia was initially celebrated by Ukrainian officials as a success, however, recent Russian counterattacks in the Kursk region have raised concerns about how long Kiev can maintain control over the territory.

The Institute for the Study of War, which has been closely monitoring the conflict, reported visual evidence indicating that Russian forces have regained control of 46% of the territories in the Kursk region.