The Kremlin Asks For Clarification Of US Vice President's Statement On Military Strength Can Suppress Russia For Ukraine Peace

JAKARATA - The Kremlin asked the United States to clarify Vice President JD Vance's statement that Washington has military and economic power to pressure Russia into agreeing to a good peace agreement with Ukraine.

Vance said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal ahead of the Munich Security Conference, the US had tools that could be used to push Russia to reach a settlement to end the war.

"There is a tool of economic influence, and of course there is a tool of military influence that the US can use against Putin," Vance said.

When asked about references to military force, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wanted to know more.

"This is a new element regarding the position (US). We have never heard such a formulation before, it has never been voiced before," Peskov told reporters.

"So, of course, as long as the contacts we have discussed, of course we hope to receive some additional clarification," he continued.

Trump said on Thursday US and Russian officials would meet in Munich on Friday and Ukraine were also invited.

But Kyiv replied they did not expect to hold talks with Russia in the German city.

Peskov, when asked about Trump's remarks regarding the presence of Russian officials in Munich, said the Kremlin had no new comments on Ukraine's peace efforts and would take several days to establish diplomatic contact with the US on Ukraine.

Separately, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Russian officials would not attend the Munich Security Conference because Russia was not invited to the event which she accused of being a "destructing" pro-Ukraine event.

However, it is unclear whether Russian officials may still travel to Munich to hold meetings outside the conference venue with US officials or other officials.

Ukraine and its European allies fear they will be ruled out in negotiations, after Trump and Putin agreed to meet to discuss ways to end the three-year war.