U.S. reaffirms role in Ukraine-Russia mediation despite rumors
The State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce denied on Friday reports from some media outlets that the U.S. would withdraw from mediating negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. She clarified that she was merely repeating an earlier position, cautioning that it might happen if there is no progress in the talks.
What do you need to know?
- The U.S. State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, denied reports about the U.S. withdrawing from mediation between Russia and Ukraine. She clarified that her words, quoted by the Standard and the Jerusalem Post, among others, were taken out of context.
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the U.S. position is consistent with previous declarations. Bruce's statement was a reiteration of earlier warnings by Secretary of State Marc Rubio.
"There's a lot of fake news out there. Here is the Ukrainian spokesperson highlighting the context of my remarks. Our posture has not changed on the need for the parties to deliver real progress," wrote U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on the platform X.
She referenced the statement by the Ukrainian MFA spokesperson Heorhij Tychyj, clarifying the context of her comments.
As we reported earlier, on Friday, the media, including the Jerusalem Post and the Standard, reported that Bruce announced at a Thursday briefing that the U.S. would no longer act as a mediator in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, and both parties should come to an agreement on their own.
The U.S. State Department, through spokesperson Tammy Bruce, reaffirmed its support and willingness to assist but emphasized that the responsibility for continuing talks now rests primarily with the two sides involved, making clear that U.S. officials will no longer be traveling extensively to facilitate such meetings.
Bruce, however, explained that this statement was taken out of context and was merely a confirmation of the stance previously discussed. A similar sentiment was expressed earlier by the Ukrainian MFA spokesperson.
Ukraine on the words of the State Department spokesperson. "Reiteration of a position"
On Friday evening, Ukraine's MFA stated that "Statement of US State Dept about withdrawal from negotiations is repetition of previously announced position"
"I just contacted US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce and we confirmed that her comment regarding U.S. role as mediator came in the context of her similar earlier comment this week ‘If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators of the process.’ It is not a new posture, but one previously stated by US Secretary of State," wrote the Ukrainian MFA spokesperson Heorhij Tychyj on the platform X.
Therefore, although the phrase she used, taken out of context, might have been understood as a definitive withdrawal from mediation, the context of her remarks (Bruce - ed.) - including earlier ones during the same briefing - indicated that she repeated Tuesday's warning by Secretary of State Marc Rubio.
