On Thursday, I reported on the great exchange between Vice President JD Vance and historian Niall Ferguson about the approach on Ukraine. While there was disagreement on the approach, one of the best things about it is now there was finally discussion on the subject of moving past the endless war. Joe Biden and the Democrats didn't even want to have discussion about how to end it; they just were content to pour out an endless amounts of money, with no seeming effort to reach any resolution of the war. 

Then too, Vance nailed it, explaining the administration's position on Ukraine in a way that had people cheering. 

Ferguson responded by saying he agreed with all of Vance's general points, except he was concerned about appeasement, and about giving up too much leverage upfront, that that might not be projecting "peace through strength," given the media reports he heard about what was being discussed. 

I responded to that, explaining that Vladimir Putin knows that that Trump is not one to be trifled with from long history, including Trump dropping bombs on the heads of Russian contractors when they fired on American forces in Syria. 

READ MORE: JD Vance Delivers Blistering Response to Historian on Ukraine That Has People Cheering

Now, Vance is answering Ferguson again. He tells Ferguson that, yes, he should doubt media reports. 

1) On the general background, yes, you have been more right than wrong on a lot of the details of the conflict. Which is why I'm surprised to hear you call the administration's posture "appeasement." We are negotiating to end the conflict. It is "appeasement" only if you think the Ukrainians have a credible pathway to victory. They don't, so it's not.

 2) As far as I can tell, accusations of "appeasement" hinge on a few arguments (not all of them from Niall, to be clear). The first is a criticism that we're even talking to the Russians. Well, the President believes to conduct diplomacy, you actually have to speak to people. This used to be called statesmanship. Second, the idea--based often on fake media reports--that we've "given the Russians everything they want." Third, that if we just passed another aid package, Ukraine would roll all the way to Moscow, raise Navalny from the dead, and install a democratic and free leader to Russia (I exaggerate, but only a little). All of these arguments are provably, demonstrably false. 

Many people who have gotten everything wrong about Russia say they know what Russia wants. Many people who know the media reports fake garbage take anonymously sourced reports on a complex negotiation as gospel truth.

Vance said a lot of the people talking are people "who aren't dealing with the reality on the ground."