US State Department warns Russia: No deals until fighting stops in Ukraine
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce (Photo: Getty Images)
The US will not enter into any bilateral agreements with Russia or ease sanctions until a ceasefire is achieved in Ukraine, states US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“There would be no negotiations, no decisions, no arrangements until after the carnage has stopped,” she told reporters.
Bruce was responding to questions regarding recent contacts with Russia and whether Washington might consider easing sanctions.
She also noted that after the missile strike on Sumy during Palm Sunday, a troubling pattern has begun to emerge—raising further questions about who genuinely seeks peace and a ceasefire.
Bruce described the war in Ukraine as a meat grinder, saying that nothing has changed.
“Yet, we continue to work obviously for the ceasefire,” she added.
Visit of Witkoff to Russia
Last week, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited St. Petersburg, where he met with Russia’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitrie,v before holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The White House welcomed the visit, calling the discussion productive.
“There is incentive for Russia to end this war, and perhaps that could be economic partnerships with the United States. But we need to see a ceasefire first,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday. “The president and the presidential envoy, Witkoff made that very clear to the Russians.”
She also stated that President Donald Trump is convinced Russia wants to bring the war in Ukraine to an end - a conclusion he reached following Witkoff’s visit to Russia.
