France, March 5 -- US Vice President JD Vance has denied disrespecting Britain and France by describing a planned peacekeeping force in Ukraine as 20,000 troops from some "random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years".

Vance's comments about the planned British- and French-led European peacekeeping force caused politicians and veterans in both countries to say he was dishonouring hundreds of troops killed fighting alongside US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On Tuesday Vance said it was "absurdly dishonest" to suggest he had criticised British or French troops in his comments, made in an interview with Fox News on Monday.

"I don't even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US...