MUNICH, Germany — On Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to visit the memorial of the Dachau concentration camp, an important symbol of the atrocities committed during World War II. This visit comes just before his significant discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on the ongoing three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Vance is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to engage in talks with Zelenskyy during the Munich Security Conference. Their discussions will revolve around former President Donald Trump’s growing calls for both Russia and Ukraine to engage in negotiations to bring an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
Before these meetings, Vance’s visit to the somber site of Dachau serves as a poignant reminder of the Nazi-era atrocities and highlights the hesitant response of the U.S. and its allies in confronting Hitler’s rise and the violent nationalism that fueled it.
Established in 1933—the same year Hitler ascended to power—Dachau was one of the first concentration camps. It housed over 200,000 individuals from various European nations, with more than 40,000 prisoners dying from the appalling conditions present there. U.S. troops liberated the camp on April 29, 1945.
This trip is part of Vance’s five-day tour of France and Germany, marking his inaugural overseas journey since assuming the vice presidency last month. His wife, Usha Vance, is expected to accompany him during the visit to Dachau.
The stop at the memorial provides Vance with an opportunity to contemplate the dire consequences of warfare, coinciding with Trump’s escalating initiatives aimed at resolving the ongoing struggle between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump stated on Wednesday that he held separate discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, revealing their mutual agreement on the urgency for immediate negotiations to conclude hostilities.
Additionally, while Trump promotes discussions with Putin, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that NATO membership for Ukraine appears unfeasible. He has advised Ukraine to lessen their ambitions of regaining all territories lost to Russia and instead work toward a peaceful resolution, supported by international forces.
In conjunction with his dialogues with Zelenskyy, Vance is also slated to deliver an address at the annual Munich Security Conference on Friday. The focal points for heads of state at this gathering include the war in Europe and the military expenditures of NATO member countries.
Like Trump, Vance has been vocal about his criticism of U.S. allies who he believes are inadequately funding their defense budgets. “The Trump administration has been clear that we care a lot about Europe,” Vance remarked during a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week. “But we also want to ensure that our security partnership benefits both Europe and the United States.”
Over nearly three years of conflict, a coalition of 50 nations, known as the Ukraine Contact Group, has delivered over $126 billion in defense and military aid to Ukraine, with the U.S. contributing more than $66.5 billion while chairing the group’s operations since its establishment.
Trump’s 2024 campaign has criticized the vast amount of U.S. military assistance extended to Ukraine, pledging to resolve the conflict within 24 hours if he regains the presidency. Following his electoral victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in November, Trump and his team moderated their expectations, setting a new target for concluding the war within approximately six months.
