The U.S. State Department reiterated on Tuesday that it remains steadfast in pushing for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that no negotiations or diplomatic arrangements will proceed until the violence ceases.
Speaking at a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce clarified the administration’s position when asked about potential discussions around sanctions relief or backchannel negotiations. “There would be no negotiations, no decisions, no arrangements until after the carnage has stopped,” Bruce stated firmly.
She further stressed the human cost of the ongoing war, saying, “It’s a meat grinder. That has not changed, and until that stops, nothing like that is happening.” Bruce added that the U.S. is still working toward achieving a ceasefire, but the groundwork for any diplomatic progress depends on an end to hostilities.
Her comments follow recent statements by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said that U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff had a “productive conversation” with Russian officials, suggesting that Russia may be open to ending the war. “There is incentive for Russia to end this war—perhaps in the form of economic partnerships with the United States—but we need to see a ceasefire first,” Leavitt stated.
The evolving U.S. position comes amid political criticism from former President Donald Trump, who blamed the Biden administration for the war and claimed it would never have happened had the 2020 election not been “rigged.”
Witkoff’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg lasted over four hours, focusing on the “Ukrainian settlement,” according to the Kremlin. While specific details of the talks remain undisclosed, the meeting marks a rare high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations during the war.
Despite this diplomatic outreach, U.S. officials continue to maintain that peace talks and any discussions of sanctions relief are contingent upon a verifiable halt to the violence. Until then, Washington’s stance remains unchanged: ceasefire first, negotiations later.
