US announces they will take a step back from the negotiation process for the end of the Russian War in Ukraine
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Saul Loeb / Ap / Profimedia
The US State Department has announced that Washington is asking Kiev and Moscow to engage directly in discussions for an armistice, writes Kyiv Independent.
The United States remains committed to support the peace efforts in Ukraine, but will reduce their direct role as a mediator, said the state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce on Thursday, May 1st.
“He (US President Donald Trump) also knows that there is another part of the world, a whole globe that needs attention,” Bruce told reporters.
“We will not fly around the world immediately to mediate meetings; the discussion is now between the two parties and now is the time to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict will end,” added the official.
A change of approach
The comments reflect a significant change in the approach of Washington, after months of diplomatic attempts meant to mediate a cessation of fire in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump have previously warned that the US will withdraw from mediation efforts if no significant progress will be made.
“If one of the two parties makes the situation very difficult, we will simply say:” You are stupid, you are crazy, you are horrible people “and we will withdraw,” Trump said on April 18th.
JD Vance Vice President of this decision was made on May 1, declaring for Fox News that the War in Ukraine is unlikely to end “too soon”.
“It will depend on the Russians and the Ukrainians now that each party knows what the other conditions for peace are. It will depend on them to reach an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,” said Vance.
Russia has retained its maximum conditions
The United States intensified their diplomatic steps earlier this year, including negotiating proposals for a 30-day fire cessation and partial armistice meant to stop attacks on civil energy infrastructure.
Moscow rejected these initiatives and violated the partially assumed armistice, accusing Ukraine of doing the same.
Moreover, Russian forces intensified attacks in Ukraine. On April 24, Russia launched 215 missiles and drones, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 87 only in Kiev.
President Trump criticized the attack as “useless” and “at a very inappropriate time”, appealing directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Vladimir, stop!”.
However, he refrained from issuing any conviction to Moscow.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also said on May 1 that at least 72 senators are ready to vote for new penalties and customs taxes against Russia, if Putin continues to avoid serious peace negotiations.
First Sale of Weapons to Ukraine in Trump Administration
In parallel, the Trump administration decided to approve its first sale of military equipment to Ukraine by Donald Trump's arrival at the White House, in an indication that the mineral agreement signed by the two countries this week could open the way to new weapons.
The State Department has certified a proposed license to export “$ 50 million or more” of defense equipment and services to Ukraine, according to a communication sent to the US Commission for Foreign Relations.
This would mark the first authorization of this kind since Trump suspended all military aids related to Ukraine shortly after taking over.
The last help package for Ukraine was granted during the Biden administration, when the Congress authorized $ 1 billion, the resignation administration trying to accelerate military aid before Trump is in office.
