U.S. Vice President JD Vance called for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, saying a deal to end Moscow’s war against its neighbor may not be reached without such a negotiating format.

In remarks on May 7, Vance said Russia is “asking too much,” but he also suggested that Ukraine should not get hung up on the idea of ​​a 30-day ceasefire.

He said the differences are wide, but added that he is optimistic that an end to the war is possible.

“You don’t have to agree with the Russian rationale for the war, but you have to understand where that rationale comes from — to get them to talk about what they want to do to end the war,” Vance said at an event in Washington. “The Russians are asking for a number of things, and we think they are asking too much.”

“The step we need to take now is for Russia and Ukraine to start talking to each other. We think it’s probably impossible to fully mediate the whole process without at least some direct negotiations,” he said.

Vance’s comments, who last week said that the biggest war in Europe since 1945 will not end “anytime soon,” came after major drone strikes between Russia and Ukraine on the eve of World War II commemorations on May 8 and 9.

Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would apply a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 and invited Kiev to do the same.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said such an announcement was propaganda and that Russia should agree to a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire in line with a US proposal made in March.

At the time, Ukraine had agreed to the US proposal, but Russia had not.

Vance suggested that Ukraine should not push for such a ceasefire.

“The gap [between Russian and Ukrainian positions] is large, but I am optimistic. We are trying to move away from the obsession with the 30-day ceasefire. If cool heads win on this one, we can stop the killing,” he said.

The Kremlin, which began its war against Ukraine in 2022, said on May 6 that it would implement the three-day ceasefire, but added that it would respond “immediately” if Ukraine carried out attacks.

US officials have warned that Washington could abandon efforts to achieve peace if progress is not made soon. The future of US military aid to Ukraine is also uncertain, increasing pressure on Europe to play a greater role and provide security for Ukraine.