JD Vance has sparked a fresh backlash after trying to backpedal on his apparent jibe at the British and French armed forces.

The American vice-president took a swipe at Europe’s efforts to provide Ukraine with security guarantees if there is a peace deal with Russia.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance said: “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.”

His comments appeared to be a dig at the UK and France, who are so far the only countries to confirm they are willing to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine.

MPs from across the political spectrum rushed to condemn Vance by pointing out that Britain fought alongside the Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 25 years.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge accused Vance of being “deeply disrespectful”.

Helen Maguire, an army veteran and the Lib Dem defence spokesperson, said: “JD Vance is erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“I saw firsthand how American and British soldiers fought bravely together shoulder to shoulder. Six of my own regiment, the Royal Military Police, didn’t return home from Iraq. This is a sinister attempt to deny that reality.”

Labour MP David Taylor said: “This great nation has proudly fought shoulder to shoulder with our US allies, with 457 service men and women killed defending freedom in Afghanistan alone.

“These shameful remarks will never undo their sacrifice or the gratitude this nation has for their defence of British values.”

Former Tory MP and Army officer Johnny Mercer, who served in Afghanistan, said: “This clown needs to check his privilege. JD Vance’s book making the mistake of finding him quite interesting.

“By his own admission he spent his time in the Marines ‘writing articles and taking pictures’. Perhaps if he had got his hands dirty serving his country like so many of his fellow American and British veterans, chasing his own country’s crazy foreign policy ideas, he might not be so quick to dismiss their sacrifice.”

Clearly stung by the criticism, Vance took to X to claim it was “absurdly dishonest” to suggest he was talking abut the UK or France.

He said: “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.”

But numerous people pointed out that no one other than Britain or France has confirmed they are willing to send troops to Ukraine to keep the peace, meaning it is unclear who else he could have been talking about.