JD Vance suggested Indian and Saudi troops for peacekeeper role in Ukraine

Vice President JD Vance proposed that troops from India or Saudi Arabia could serve as peacekeepers in Ukraine, according to a new book detailing discussions on American strategy for the conflict. The suggestion reportedly emerged during a White House meeting early in the second Trump administration.

The book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump" by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, places the conversation within a briefing by retired Army Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg. Kellogg, appointed by Trump as special presidential envoy for Ukraine and Russia, presented a plan titled "An America First Plan: Trump’s Historic Peace Deal for Russia-Ukraine War."

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Are there troops from other countries that could serve this purpose. Saudi Arabia or India.

As part of this proposal, the US would acknowledge Russia's control over occupied Ukrainian territory without formal recognition, and Ukraine would commit to not reclaiming lost land by force. This approach led to a discussion about non-NATO peacekeepers, prompting Vance's question: "Are there troops from other countries that could serve this purpose," before naming "Saudi Arabia or India."

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The Indians won’t do that. They won’t pay for something like that. Prime Minister Modi really liked him and wanted to visit, Trump said, but the Indians do not ever pay for anything.

According to the book, Trump reacted with amusement, stating, "The Indians won't do that. They won’t pay for something like that." He also mentioned his positive relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but reiterated that "the Indians do not ever pay for anything."

Separately, the book touches on Trump's stance on tariffs, particularly concerning India. During a meeting with technology CEOs in March, Trump cited India's alleged 175% tariff on American goods as an example of unfair trade practices. He declared that companies refusing to build factories in the US would face "massive tariffs," potentially exceeding 100%, and stated, "We're treated so unfairly. China tariffs us over 150 to 200 per cent, India 175 per cent."

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Those who won’t build here are going to have massive tariffs to pay… not 20%, like 100%…We’re treated so unfairly. China tariffs us over 150 to 200 per cent, India 175 per cent.