Baghdad: US Vice President J.D. Vance called on Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct negotiations on Wednesday to reach a settlement that would end the crisis that has erupted for more than three years. “We believe it’s probably impossible for us to fully mediate without at least some direct negotiations between them, so that’s what we’re focusing on,” Vance said during a meeting linked to the Munich Security Forum in Washington.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the US Vice President added that Washington wants Moscow and Kyiv to agree on some guidelines for direct dialogue, which he considered necessary to achieve peace. Vance described the concessions Russia sought as “excessive,” stressing that he was not pessimistic about the chances of resolving the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated earlier this week that reconciliation between his country and Ukraine was “inevitable” and “a matter of time,” according to Russian media reports.