U.S. Vice President JD Vance said European nations must take the “lion’s share” of responsibility and funding for Ukraine’s security guarantees, stressing that it is Europe’s continent and security at stake.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that his comments follow President Donald Trump’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Trump pushes for a peace deal to end the war.

Trump has ruled out deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine but has suggested possible air support. He has also criticized the scale of U.S. military aid to Kyiv, insisting Europe step up financially and militarily.

Vance acknowledged Russia’s demand to retain some Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine, bound by its constitution, opposes any concessions. However, Kyiv currently lacks both the military power to retake all occupied regions and the diplomatic leverage to force Russia’s withdrawal.