"The reality is that Ukraine wants peace, and Russia wants war," Volker said.
“And no matter how much you try to change that reality, it still comes back to this point - Russia wants this war. And I think that's something that Trump and Vance already recognize.”
Increasing the costs of war for Russian President Vladimir Putin is key to forcing an end to the conflict, the diplomat added.
"And I think that's something that Trump and Vance already recognize," Volker said.
Negotiations with Russia - latest statements
On May 7, Vance said that the Russians were "asking for too much" to end the war in Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t say that the Russians are uninterested in bringing this thing to a resolution,” he said during a Q&A session at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington.
“What I would say is, right now, the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict.”
Commenting on these words of Vance, Trump said that he may be right, and that there comes a time when, on the issue of Russia's war against Ukraine and peace negotiations, we are reaching a point where “certain decisions will have to be made.”
On May 8, Vance said that the United States could stop participating in negotiations on the war in Ukraine if it concludes that Russia is not being sincere.
Also on that day, he said that Russia, believing itself to be in a more favorable position on the front, was making excessive demands and should not hope to gain territories it failed to capture.
Overnight into May 11, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin offered Ukraine to resume direct talks "without any preconditions" on May 15 in Istanbul.
In response, Trump called on Kyiv to immediately agree to a meeting with Moscow:
"At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!" he wrote, while expressing doubt that Ukraine would conclude a deal with the Russian dictator.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov avoided a direct answer to the question about a possible meeting with Zelenskyy, saying that "the Kremlin is focused on a serious search for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement."
Trump himself has hinted that he may personally arrive in Istanbul:
"I believe the two leaders are going to be there [Zelenskyy and Putin in Turkiye on May 15],” he said.
“I don’t know where I’m going to be on Thursday. I’ve got so many meetings. But I was thinking about actually flying over there. There’s a possibility of it.”
The key demand supported by the Europeans is that Putin stop delaying the 30-day ceasefire.