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Trump’s No2 JD Vance denies he claimed UK ‘hasn’t been in a war for 30 years’ after sparking row
Politicians of all parties joined with forces heroes in blasting the Vice President's remarks
JD Vance has denied saying the UK had not fought a war in 30 years after his comments sparked outrage from veterans and politicians.
Donald Trump's Vice President branded reaction to his remarks as "absurdly dishonest" - and insisted he was not referring to Britain.
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Vance sparked fury across the political spectrum after he dismissed countries offering boots-on-the-ground support to Ukraine.
He told Fox News: “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."
“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."
Britain and France are the only countries to have committed to sending troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force.
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His comments were seen by some as diminishing the role of UK troops - with some 636 dying fighting alongside the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vance later took to X to clarify his comments.
He wrote: "I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.
"But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering (privately or publicly) support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful."
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If not the UK or France - it is unclear which nations he was refering to in the interview.
Downing Street this afternoon also appeared to rebuke the Vice President with a robust defence of British troops' record in combat.
UK & France launch Ukraine plan as Trump ‘halts’ cyber war with Russia
Asked about the comments, the PM's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister, and I think this whole country is full of admiration for British troops who served, for instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process, and obviously alongside allies, including the United States.
"It's very clear that their courage and bravery has helped to ensure global security, defend our values, our national interests, and our focus, once again, is is on how we protect our national interests and global security by progressing the discussions to secure lasting peace for Ukraine."
Mr Vance made the remarks while pressing Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a minerals deal following their extraordinary dust-up in the Oval Office last week.
He also appeared to dismiss Sir Keir's pledge to station peacekeeping troops in Ukraine following any ceasefire deal with Russia.
It comes as:
- Trump halted all American aid to Ukraine following his fallout with Zelensky in the White House
- Trump is reportedly drawing up plans to give Russia relief from damaging sanctions
- Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three" during their fiery White House clash
- Ukraine confirmed huge Russian missile strike on training base on Monday
- European oil giant demands ban on refuelling US warships after 'biggest s**tshow' clash between Trump and Zelensky
- A top Trump official suggests Zelensky may have to quit as President of Ukraine to get peace talks back on track
- UK and France will lead new ‘coalition of the willing’ for peace in Ukraine, PM Keir Starmer says
Politicians of all stripes rounded on the remarks alongside several former high-ranking soldiers.
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader & MP for Clacton, said: "For 20 years in Afghanistan pro rata our size against America's we spent the same amount of money, we put the same number of men and women in.
"We suffered the same losses.
"We stood by America all through those 20 years putting in exactly the same contribution. And alright, they may be six times bigger but we did our bit. So, on this one JD is wrong."
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, who served as a commando in Afghanistan, said: “Vance needs to wind his neck in.”
He added: “Show a bit of respect and stop making yourself look so unpleasant."
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge rebuked Mr Vance for being "deeply disrespectful for ignoring such service and sacrifice" of British troops.
Ex-Armed Forces Minister and veteran James Heappey hit back at Mr Vance’s “sad” interpretation of history.
He said: “Serving with America and France were defining moments of my military career... Sad to hear the relationship reduced to this.”
Show a bit of respect and stop making yourself look so unpleasant
Former minister Johnny Mercer
SAS legend Andy McNab, who fought in the First Gulf War, said: “He needs to read the names of the dead who have fought and shed blood alongside US troops.”
Ex-Army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders said: “I fought alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan over almost two decades so I obviously don’t agree with Vance’s remarks."
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West slammed Mr Vance's comments as "utterly disgraceful".
The ex-Navy chief and security minister said: "We lost over 450 men and women, plus 3,000 very badly injured when we went into Afghanistan post 9/11, with America as its allies. Nato had invoked Article 5.
"It is utterly disgraceful that Vance ignores that and says such things. He is a ghastly man, I am afraid."
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Britain's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter
BRITAIN has fought in a some 11 conflicts since 1990, the most dangerous were the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.
636 brave Brits gave their lives fighting alongside the US as it prosecuted the War on Terror.
AFGHANISTAN
Britain joined the US in Afghanistan in 2001 after New York was attacked when Al Qaeda terrorists flew passenger jets into the World Trade Centre towers.
Washington invoked Article 5 of the Nato alliance - the same section which Europe now fears America may ignore leading to a Russian invasion.
457 British troops were killed in Afghanistan as they fought in Kabul, Kandahar, and Helmand and tried to cut out a Taliban insurgency.
UK troops were part of a multi-national force, the International Security Assistance Force, that also provided security for the transitional government and rebuild the country.
The UK had combat troops in Afghanistan until 2014, but continued to be involved until 2021 before the allied force withdrew.
IRAQ
Tony Blair decided to join George Bush for his invasion of Iraq and to remove Saddam Hussein from power after bad intelligence led leaders to believe the dictator was trying to build nuclear weapons.
Operation Telic, as the British deployment was known, is the biggest since WW2 and consisted of 46,000 troops being sent to the country for the invasion.
179 Brits died between 2003 and 2009 with thousands more wounded.
After the capture of Saddam, British forces continued to patrol and attempted to maintain security in the country in a counter-insurgency operation.
But the power vacuum created by the disbanding of Iraq's armed forces created an insurgency and the growth of Jihadi groups.
British forces bravely fought through ambushes and a guerrilla war to help stabilise the country and then totally withdrawing in 2009.
Mr Vance served four years in the US Marine Corps including a short six-month tour as public affairs soldier.
Sir Keir has called on European allies to form a "coalition of the willing" to keep the peace in Ukraine if a deal is reached.
Mr Trump today halted all US military aid to Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
The US has now paused aid to the war-torn country until Zelensky's government shows a commitment to peace negotiations, a senior Trump administration official told Fox News.
The official said: "This is not permanent termination of aid, it's a pause."
Trump's move might have an immediate impact on Ukrainian stockpiles, though some experts believe the country has enough weapons to fight until the summer at its current level.
It will affect all American military equipment not delivered to Ukraine, including weapons in transit and currently in Poland.
The directive also suspends funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which uses US monies to purchase new gear.
On Monday, Trump said that Zelensky "will not be around very long" unless he agrees to America's terms on a peace deal.
He told reporters at the White House: "It should not be that hard a deal to make.
"It could be made very fast. Now, maybe somebody doesn't want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn't want to make a deal, I think that person won't be around very long.
"That person will not be listened to very long."
It comes just hours after the US President blasted Zelensky in a Truth Social post saying "this guy doesn’t want there to be peace".
Trump was responding to a quote from the Ukrainian leader in which he said an end to the conflict with Russia is still "very, very far away".
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The Republican firebrand described his quotes as the "worst statement that could have been made".
His post continued: "America will not put up with it for much longer.
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