The U.S. State Department has declared that the time has come for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, and that the U.S. will no longer play an active mediation role in this process.

This was stated by State Department spokesperson Tami Bruce during a briefing.

U.S. State Department Statement: Time for Direct Talks Between Ukraine and Russia

“We will not be mediators. We will not be rushing to the other side of the world to moderate meetings,” she said, explaining Washington's shift in approach. “The work now must be done between the two parties.”

The spokesperson noted that the United States will still strive for peace. However, she emphasized that the resolution of the conflict requires “specific ideas” from both Moscow and Kyiv.

The U.S. Expects Territorial Concessions from Ukraine and Russia

U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance has indicated that for peace to be achieved, Ukraine and Russia will likely need to make territorial concessions.

A planned meeting of the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ukraine to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine was postponed following the cancellation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit.

Instead, discussions will occur at the level of senior officials from the five countries (likely Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the U.S.).

As soon as news of Rubio's visit cancellation broke, Paris and Berlin also suspended their foreign ministers' travel plans.