Trump believes only negotiated agreement can resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict
US President Donald Trump believes a negotiated agreement between Russia and Ukraine is the only viable path to ending the conflict between the two countries, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Trump's efforts to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine contributed to the countries restarting direct negotiations in Türkiye last month – talks that Kiev abandoned in 2022 to focus on its military efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that while Moscow is not seeking an unconditional surrender, Kiev must acknowledge the 'realities on the ground,' and that its negotiating position worsens with each passing day.
In a press briefing on Friday, Bruce was asked whether those remarks mean that Moscow is not serious about the talks, and how Washington would respond.
'As I've mentioned before, during negotiations, things sometimes progress, things change. That's the whole point of negotiations and conversations: You signal how long you're generally willing to wait, but you also know if someone is serious,' she said, noting, 'At the same time, we've heard some very blunt comments by President Trump about President Putin.'
That's where we've landed at this point in comments from both the president and secretary of state – that the only way this is going to end is for the two parties to meet and come to a conclusion and a decision, and some kind of an agreement.
She added that while the US remains Ukraine's 'biggest supporter,' the process of peace negotiations is complex and constantly evolving. 'We are clearly making our presence and our care about the situation known... but this is not about reacting to a single quote or online statement,' she said.
Asked about Putin's assertion that Russia now holds a 'strategic advantage' in the conflict, Bruce declined to comment on potential punitive measures or sanctions, reiterating: 'We're not going to listen to what [Russia] says – we're going to watch what they do.'
'Only the president can make the decision about 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 term it… there is one guiding hand to the choices that we make. And that would include Russia, Ukraine, and every conflict he's trying to stop.'
The spokeswoman added that direct engagement between Moscow and Washington continues behind the scenes, involving 'months now of dealing with the parties directly,' and argued that Trump, as 'the most powerful leader in the world right now,' is better positioned than the public or press to assess the situation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
36 minutes ago
- Russia Today
Trump threatens Iran with more strikes (VIDEO)
President Donald Trump has warned Tehran to 'make peace' or face further attacks, just hours after the United States carried out 'massive precision strikes' on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. In a televised address from the White House on Saturday night, the US president told the nation: 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror.' 'Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,' he declared. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.' Trump also warned Iran against retaliation, calling it the 'bully of the Middle East." Iran... must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. Israel launched its Operation Rising Lion as a 'preemptive' strike, allegedly aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear bomb. Tehran, which has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, called the attack an act of war and responded with missile and drone strikes of its own. President Donald J. Trump Delivers Address to the Nation, June 21, 2025 In just one week, Israeli strikes have killed at least 430 Iranians and injured more than 3,500 civilians, according to Iran's Health Ministry – though other sources have reported higher death tolls. Israeli officials have reported 25 deaths and over 2,500 injuries. Trump reiterated that 'there will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.' 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all, by far – and perhaps the most lethal,' Trump warned. 'If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes,' he said, adding: 'There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight.'
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Trump hails ‘spectacular' US raid against Iran (FULL SPEECH)
In a televised address from the White House on Saturday night, US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces had 'completely obliterated' three Iranian nuclear sites in a major overnight operation. He described the strikes as a 'spectacular military success' and threatened further action if Tehran does not pursue peace. Below is the full transcript of President Trump's address to the nation: 'Thank you very much. A short time ago, the US military carried out massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime. Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not. Future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier. For 40 years, Iran has been saying. Death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East, and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate in particular. So many were killed by their general, Qassim Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades. Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that's so. I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan 'Razin' Caine, spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack. With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago. Tomorrow, General Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8am at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody. And, in particular, God. I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.'
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
NATO split over 5% spending demand
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected NATO's proposal for member states to increase military spending to 5% of their GDP, calling the idea 'not only unreasonable but also counterproductive.' Following US President Donald Trump's demands for a 5% target, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for every bloc member to raise military spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% to wider security spending. 'Spain will continue to fulfill its duty in the years and decades ahead and will continue to actively contribute to the European security architecture. However, Spain cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP at this summit,' Sanchez wrote in a letter to Rutte that emerged on Thursday in the media. 'It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign ally, we choose not to.' Spain currently falls well behind other Western nations, allocating only about 1.3% of its GDP to military spending – significantly below NATO's 2% target. Rutte previously called for cuts to social programs across the EU in order to fund the increased military outlays. Since assuming office in January, Trump has intensified demands that the bloc's European members spend more on defense and has repeatedly accused them of failing to shoulder the burden equitably. Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled his cabinet's plan to significantly increase military spending. The move was backed by Rutte, who claimed that Russia could be ready to target NATO countries within the next five years. Leaders of the bloc are expected to agree to increase defense spending to contain the alleged threat. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the rhetoric about the threat posed by Russia to NATO as an 'inconceivable lie' used by Western governments to justify tax increases and the diversion of public funds to the military-industrial complex. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, Putin warned that this kind of military posturing only escalates global tensions while diverting resources from social and economic development. The Times reported on Wednesday that the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, is expected to be unusually brief with just one working meeting lasting two and a half hours. The outlet reported that the format of the summit was altered in light of Trump's dislike of lengthy diplomatic meetings.
