The only enduring solution to the ongoing war in Ukraine lies in direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, United States State Department Secretary Tammy Bruce said on Saturday, echoing President Donald Trump’s belief that diplomacy remains the most effective route to ending the conflict.
Bruce’s remarks came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that a ceasefire would be possible only if signed by credible actors within Ukraine, fuelling speculation over the future of faltering peace efforts.
While recent talks between the two countries, most recently in Istanbul, resulted in a prisoner exchange, no substantial progress has yet been made on halting hostilities. The negotiations remain fraught, with both sides sticking to entrenched positions and offering limited compromise.
No “unconditional surrender,” says Putin
Speaking on Friday, Putin stated that Moscow does not demand an “unconditional surrender” but reiterated that Kyiv must “acknowledge the realities on the ground”, warning that Ukraine’s bargaining power diminishes “with each passing day.”
When asked to respond to Putin’s remarks, Bruce said, “As I’ve mentioned before, during negotiations, things sometimes progress, things change. That’s the whole point of negotiations and conversations.” She added, “We saw and heard some very blunt comments from the Russian president on Thursday.”
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Trump’s role in facilitating peace
Bruce underlined that President Trump is expected to play a personal role in pushing the two sides towards de-escalation. “Only the president can decide on how to proceed. Only he knows all the elements about what’s important and how we’re going to make a difference,” she said. “As I see it, Trump will use his guiding hand to facilitate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to prevent conflict, like he has been doing in the conflicts.”
Despite a complex and shifting diplomatic landscape, Bruce said the US remained committed to supporting Ukraine and engaging in behind-the-scenes discussions with both parties.
“The US remains in full support of Ukraine. The peace negotiations process is complex and constantly changing. We are making our position and presence felt in the ongoing peace process; we are facilitating dialogue,” she explained.
When pressed about Putin’s recent battlefield claims, Bruce said, “We are not going to listen to what he says; rather, watch what he does.”
Direct US-Russia dialogue has continued quietly over recent months, Bruce confirmed, though she offered no details on the format or outcomes.
“Direct negotiations between Russia and the United States are still ongoing behind closed doors, involving ‘months now of dealing with the parties directly’,” she added.
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