US makes clear stance on peace talks related to Ukraine conflict
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 2 that Washington would not give up its efforts to mediate a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The information was released after a statement from the US State Department earlier raised concerns that the country could withdraw from the negotiation process.
However, Mr Rubio warned that if the talks continued to stall, the US could “move towards withdrawal”.
“If there is no progress between the two sides, we will withdraw from our mediation role,” US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters at a press briefing earlier in the day.
“We’re not going to give up in a way that we’re not willing to assist if we can,” Rubio said later on Fox News host Sean Hannity. He stressed that the final decision would be made by President Donald Trump. “At some point, either there has to be a shift, or we all have to move on. That’s a decision the president has to make,” the secretary of state said.
Mr Rubio stressed that the conflict – which would escalate under former President Joe Biden in 2022 – “is not our fight” – and said the US now sees confronting China and Iran’s nuclear programme as higher priorities.
“Right now, our position remains the same, but if there is no progress, that will change,” Ms. Bruce later clarified to Fox News. She denied that the administration was abandoning peace efforts.
Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has pressed both Moscow and Kiev toward a ceasefire, but he has recently expressed frustration with the lack of progress.
Moscow recently said it was ready to hold direct talks with Kiev “without preconditions.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ordered Russian forces to observe a 72-hour ceasefire during next week’s Victory Day celebrations.
However, Ukrainian President Zelensky rejected the proposal, calling it “an attempted manipulation”.
