State Department Official Condemns Russia's 'Reckless And Unhelpful' Nuclear Threats

During a State Department press briefing on Thursday, spokesperson Tammy Bruce was asked about ceasefire negotiations with Russia.

Transcript

00:00Your colleague at the White House spoke to the president's expectations following his 50 days deadline.

00:05My question is about Russia's reaction in these three days.

00:09There's no sign of any different behavior.

00:12Instead, they did issue nuclear threat.

00:17They questioned president's motives.

00:19And Russian foreign minister today said that we are not accepting any threats.

00:24So what makes the president and administration believe that next 47 days will be any different?

00:30Well, I can't read their mind.

00:32And, you know, I won't begin to try to think of what they might be thinking.

00:36I don't know what I'm going to be thinking tomorrow.

00:38You never know.

00:39But what I can say is that obviously they've expressed their displeasure with how things have been so far,

00:45which in part led to this new structure that we're looking at, including the 50 days.

00:51Regarding any kind of nuclear commentary or preemptive strikes, et cetera,

00:57let's just say that rhetoric does not improve regional security.

01:01And, of course, as President Trump has said, the word nuclear should not be treated casually.

01:08And we have seen these kinds of reckless and unhelpful statements before.

01:13So it's not something I can preview for you regarding what might happen or might not happen.

01:20But the good news is, is that the world knows the nature and the attitude and the values of President Trump

01:26and the secretary and of the American government.

01:29And we also, of course, remain committed, as we have, to Ukraine and to ending that situation peacefully,

01:38hopefully through diplomacy, as the president has been committed to.

01:42I'll go right back.

01:43On that line, last week, today, this day, the secretary met with Lavrov,

01:47and he signaled, quote-unquote, new different approach from Russia.

01:52The fact the president moved forward with his own deadline, does that mean that you guys have rejected what Lavrov offered?

01:57Oh, you know, I can't speak to that.

01:59I can't address that at all.

02:01But I would caution, again, drawing conclusions because of what someone else may have said or if a phone call happened.

02:08These are very deliberate individuals, the men and women making decisions, engaging in these things.

02:13We know what's at stake.

02:15We know why they're doing it.

02:17It's about life and death and who's alive today, who might not be tomorrow.

02:21They're aware of everything, and the choices they'll make will be the right choices.

02:25And we'll go right back to Eric here for his last question.