Without Initiatives from Ukraine and Russia, No Mediation or Sanctions Relief — U.S.

The United States has no plans to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia unless both sides present concrete proposals for ending the war.

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce made the remarks during a briefing in Washington.

She states that any peace initiative must come directly from officials in Kyiv and Moscow, emphasizing that the current moment is critical for developing actionable steps to halt hostilities.

She also added that the administration was not going to fly around the world to instantly organize mediation meetings, stressing that it was then a matter for the two sides. “Now is the time for them to develop concrete ideas for ending the war,” Bruce said.

At the same time, she reiterated that the United States remains committed to a peaceful resolution and will continue to engage diplomatically where possible.

“President Trump wants every step we take as a nation to be diplomatic. He understands that there is another part of the world that also needs attention,” she added.

Bruce also stressed that despite the limited role in direct negotiations, Washington had not changed its position on sanctions against Russia.

According to her, no existing sanctions against the Russian Federation will be lifted. “We remain in that position,” she noted, answering questions from journalists.

Bruce’s comments align with earlier remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned that a lack of meaningful action by either side could lead to a complete withdrawal of U.S. mediation efforts.

“If there is no progress, we will step back as mediators in this process,” Rubio was quoted as saying by Reuters on April 29.

Washington’s stance reflects growing expectations for Ukraine and Russia to take the lead in defining a pathway toward ending the war.

According to U.S. officials, the format and content of future negotiations must come from the parties directly involved in the war started by Moscow.