During a State Department press briefing on Tuesday, spokesperson Tammy Bruce was asked about negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
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00:00Thank you, Tammy.
00:01Moving to Ukraine, if I may.
00:02The President has been discussing Ukraine peace efforts with foreign leaders.
00:05We heard from the White House over the weekend about a call with Erdogan.
00:10We heard him saying it today with the Canadian prime minister.
00:12Yes.
00:13If you have yet, you cannot walk us into the White House discussion.
00:16Let me ask you this.
00:18Does that mean that you guys are staying very much as key mediators, contrary to media reports,
00:24and that following Mineral Steel talks are entering right now into a new phase?
00:28Well, first, I can tell you, of course, there were some erroneous reports, fake reports
00:34about the nature of where we stand.
00:36I made a number of comments in the midst of those reports, debunking them.
00:40The fact is, is that Ukraine, of course, we've been its largest supporter.
00:43We remain its largest supporter.
00:45We remain within our posture of being mediators within this framework.
00:51But as I think I said to you last Tuesday, a week ago, was that there is – we do recognize
00:56and everyone has to – that both parties must come up with their proposals for an enduring
01:02peace.
01:03That we are looking for that progress.
01:07And that is because we have a time, you know, in our minds – the president has noted that
01:11this can't go on forever, as has the secretary.
01:14And so the framework of if we were to withdraw as a mediator would come if we don't see progress
01:21from the parties.
01:23And we do.
01:24The president has made recent comments about his continuing optimism about what was possible.
01:30And of course, the secretary also has been traveling a great deal and continues to.
01:36But our commitment is not one that is fainting.
01:42It is not one that was brief.
01:44This is a commitment that – well, styles might change on occasion or the nature of the strategies
01:50might change.
01:51But our commitment remains the same.
01:54And again, it is reliant on the parties showing us that progress is possible, that they're working
02:01for progress, that steps are being taken for progress.
02:05And then the president, who is in charge of how this proceeds, will make his determination.
02:10He's, of course, involved with all of the parties in this regard, along, of course, with
02:14Secretary of State Marco Rubio and, of course, the interim NSA.
02:20So we've – we're sure about that.
02:23That was – I appreciate you bringing it up, because there's a lot of fake news.
02:27I think we've been extremely clear.
02:30And I appreciate the opportunity to be clear again about our commitment to Ukraine.
02:34Thank you so much for that.
02:35When you say both parties, just – I'm trying to understand why Ukraine is in this, let's
02:41say, group.
02:43Ukraine did everything you asked them for – to do.
02:47They signed the agreement.
02:48MS NAUERT- Well, what I – yes.
02:49They –
02:50MS NAUERT- Well, yes.
02:51And I have enjoyed being at the summits, working with people, meeting my counterparts in Ukraine,
02:58their commitment.
02:59Obviously, they want this to stop, this carnage to stop.
03:03It's clear.
03:04MS NAUERT- I'm not in every room and with every conversation.
03:07What I convey to you in my role is what the Secretary of State has said and what the
03:11President has noted, is that the parties must come together with concrete efforts and acknowledgements
03:18and ideas and strategies to end the conflict.
03:23So when – when that is something I convey to you, I can't – I'm not going to speak for
03:28Ukrainians, certainly not for the Russians, but that's – both parties, within the framework
03:34of the conversations that the negotiators and diplomats are having, must participate
03:40in that framework.
03:42MS NAUERT- Yes, ma'am.
03:43MS NAUERT- Thank you.