NPR reports that JD Vance is facing criticism for his remarks on the European peacekeeping plan for Ukraine.

Vice President Vance is defending himself Tuesday after triggering a furious reaction for suggesting that a proposal to put European peacekeepers in Ukraine would not be enough to prevent Russia from invading again.

During an interview with Fox News, Vance said a better “security guarantee” for Ukraine was for Kyiv to sign a proposed critical minerals deal with Washington.

“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance told Fox’s Sean Hannity, in an interview broadcast Monday night. “That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”

The interview followed Friday’s confrontational White House meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where they were set to discuss and potentially sign a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals. President Trump called off the signing, charging that Zelenskyy was “not ready for peace.”

On Capitol Hill Tuesday, Vance said a deal is still possible. “I think the president is still committed to the mineral deal. I think we’ve heard some positive things, but not yet, of course, the signature from our friends in Ukraine,” he told reporters.

Zelenskyy posted on X that the White House meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way.”

“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format,” he wrote Tuesday. “We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”

The Trump administration argues that the deal would give Ukraine more economic security and ensure U.S. interest in physical security against Russian aggression.

Backlash from allies abroad

Soon after the Fox interview aired Monday night, Vance’s comments were circulating overseas across Europe. Current and former European leaders quickly responded with some seeing them as a swipe against the proposed United Kingdom and French-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.