State Department Spokesperson Asked If Negotiations On Russia-Ukraine War Are Entering A 'New Phase'

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During a State Department press briefing on Tuesday, spokesperson Tammy Bruce was asked about negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Transcript

00:00Thank you, Tammy.

00:01Moving to Ukraine, if I may.

00:02The President has been discussing Ukraine peace efforts with foreign leaders.

00:05We heard from the White House over the weekend about a call with Erdogan.

00:10We heard him saying it today with the Canadian prime minister.

00:12Yes.

00:13If you have yet, you cannot walk us into the White House discussion.

00:16Let me ask you this.

00:18Does that mean that you guys are staying very much as key mediators, contrary to media reports,

00:24and that following Mineral Steel talks are entering right now into a new phase?

00:28Well, first, I can tell you, of course, there were some erroneous reports, fake reports

00:34about the nature of where we stand.

00:36I made a number of comments in the midst of those reports, debunking them.

00:40The fact is, is that Ukraine, of course, we've been its largest supporter.

00:43We remain its largest supporter.

00:45We remain within our posture of being mediators within this framework.

00:51But as I think I said to you last Tuesday, a week ago, was that there is – we do recognize

00:56and everyone has to – that both parties must come up with their proposals for an enduring

01:02peace.

01:03That we are looking for that progress.

01:07And that is because we have a time, you know, in our minds – the president has noted that

01:11this can't go on forever, as has the secretary.

01:14And so the framework of if we were to withdraw as a mediator would come if we don't see progress

01:21from the parties.

01:23And we do.

01:24The president has made recent comments about his continuing optimism about what was possible.

01:30And of course, the secretary also has been traveling a great deal and continues to.

01:36But our commitment is not one that is fainting.

01:42It is not one that was brief.

01:44This is a commitment that – well, styles might change on occasion or the nature of the strategies

01:50might change.

01:51But our commitment remains the same.

01:54And again, it is reliant on the parties showing us that progress is possible, that they're working

02:01for progress, that steps are being taken for progress.

02:05And then the president, who is in charge of how this proceeds, will make his determination.

02:10He's, of course, involved with all of the parties in this regard, along, of course, with

02:14Secretary of State Marco Rubio and, of course, the interim NSA.

02:20So we've – we're sure about that.

02:23That was – I appreciate you bringing it up, because there's a lot of fake news.

02:27I think we've been extremely clear.

02:30And I appreciate the opportunity to be clear again about our commitment to Ukraine.

02:34Thank you so much for that.

02:35When you say both parties, just – I'm trying to understand why Ukraine is in this, let's

02:41say, group.

02:43Ukraine did everything you asked them for – to do.

02:47They signed the agreement.

02:48MS NAUERT- Well, what I – yes.

02:49They –

02:50MS NAUERT- Well, yes.

02:51And I have enjoyed being at the summits, working with people, meeting my counterparts in Ukraine,

02:58their commitment.

02:59Obviously, they want this to stop, this carnage to stop.

03:03It's clear.

03:04MS NAUERT- I'm not in every room and with every conversation.

03:07What I convey to you in my role is what the Secretary of State has said and what the

03:11President has noted, is that the parties must come together with concrete efforts and acknowledgements

03:18and ideas and strategies to end the conflict.

03:23So when – when that is something I convey to you, I can't – I'm not going to speak for

03:28Ukrainians, certainly not for the Russians, but that's – both parties, within the framework

03:34of the conversations that the negotiators and diplomats are having, must participate

03:40in that framework.

03:42MS NAUERT- Yes, ma'am.

03:43MS NAUERT- Thank you.

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