US changes approach to negotiations with Russia and Ukraine

“The essence of the change is that we will no longer, on short notice, fly around the world to meet and mediate. We're still committed to engagement, we're committed to helping in whatever way we can, but now it's up to the parties to the conflict,” said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

She said that there are other regions in the world that require attention, reports “RBC-Ukraine”.

“The Secretary of State also made it clear: while our style will be different, the method of how we engage in this process will change. We will no longer fulfill the role of a mediator,” she added.

Asked whether the US is ready to impose secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil, similar to measures against Iran, the State Department speaker said that US President Donald Trump has reiterated his willingness to act in this direction.

“Obviously, we are not going to lift any existing sanctions. The president wants every action we take as a nation to be done diplomatically - and this reflects his commitment to that approach,” she said.

Bruce said the idea of the previous US administration was that Russia had not been spoken to for at least three years.

Trump and Rubio's approach is that people need to be talked to - face-to-face, one-on-one.

“I'm not going to guess at the substance of what President Trump and Putin might discuss. I know that President Trump is doing it for a reason, and that is to end the bloodshed and the carnage,” she added.

Photo: caviral.com.