Washington DC [US], April 16 (ANI): The US Department of State said on Tuesday (US local time) that America continues to push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Until the ceasefire is achieved, spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, “There would be no negotiations, no decisions, no arrangements until after the carnage has stopped.”
While responding to a query on the negotiations with Russia—specifically whether there have been any discussions of sanctions relief or if the White House had asked the State Department to drop any sanctions—Bruce said, “I won’t speak to any discussion between the White House and the State Department, Secretary Rubio and any other leader here. But what I can say is a reminder that was clear from the beginning—there would be no negotiations, no decisions, no arrangements until after the carnage has stopped.”
She added, “After Psalm Sunday, there is clearly a dynamic that there has to be questions about the nature of who is really committed to peace and a ceasefire. But there are no negotiations or arrangements, based on the regular statements from the administration and from Secretary Rubio as well. It’s a meat grinder. That has not changed, and until that stops, nothing like that is happening.”
Bruce emphasized, “Yet, we continue to work obviously for the ceasefire in that regard.”
Her remarks came after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a briefing, addressed the topic of an agreement with Russia. When asked whether Russia agreed to anything in discussions with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Leavitt stated that while she wouldn’t want to get ahead of the negotiations, “What I can tell is, a productive conversation was had, as the Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said last night he believes that Russia wants to end this war and the President believes that as well.”
She continued, “There is incentive for Russia to end this war, and perhaps that could be economic partnerships with the United States, but we need to see a ceasefire first, and the President and the Presidential Envoy Witkoff made it very clear to the Russians.”
These comments followed US President Donald Trump blaming the Biden administration for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and asserting that the war would not have occurred had the 2020 election not been “rigged.”
Previously, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to discuss the conflict, according to Al Jazeera. Putin was shown on state TV greeting Witkoff in Saint Petersburg’s presidential library, with their talks lasting more than four hours. The Kremlin stated the meeting “focused on various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement,” without elaborating.
The talks come as the US continues efforts to broker a ceasefire deal, which remains stalled amid disagreements on conditions.
Meanwhile, on the Middle East front, the State Department also provided updates on ongoing negotiations and efforts for peace.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, “There is a constant, regular commitment to Gaza, to the Gazan people, certainly to one of our strongest if not most stalwart ally, Israel, who have, by the way, a new ambassador from the United States, Ambassador Mike Huckabee. So we’re very excited about the future. We are working constantly to make—to have a ceasefire and to change the trajectory on the ground. That has not stopped.”
During the same briefing, Bruce addressed the rising tide of antisemitism, declaring, “As antisemitism surges around the world, our message to Jewish communities remains unchanged: The United States stands with you. We will fight antisemitism with unwavering determination. We will advocate for the safety and security of Jews everywhere.”
Speaking on developments with Iran, Bruce referenced the meeting between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, hosted by the Omani foreign minister. She cited a White House statement calling the discussions “very positive and constructive,” adding that both sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.
Quoting Ambassador Witkoff, Bruce said, “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East—meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programme. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, [yet] fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”
On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Bruce reaffirmed, “There is one goal here and that is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And that is, I think, a pretty easy thing to start with, and that is the one thing that we know that they’re working on. And I think we’ll have some success, considering who we’re addressing.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also spoke on the matter, noting that President Trump held a conversation with the Sultan of Oman on Tuesday, thanking him for hosting the first direct meeting between the two countries. She reiterated that the US remains firm in its stance that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
Leavitt concluded, “The maximum pressure campaign on Iran continues, but as you know, the President has made it clear—he wants to see dialogue and discussion with Iran while making his directive about Iran never being able to obtain nuclear weapons, quite clear.”
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