In a significant shift from the entrenched positions of the past, US President Donald Trump is now actively endorsing a negotiated settlement as the only viable path to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking through State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a June 20 press briefing, the administration emphasized Trump’s belief that diplomacy, not prolonged military confrontation, must be the basis of resolution.

Bruce revealed that Trump’s personal engagement had helped facilitate the resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which took place in Türkiye last month. This development marks a return to dialogue after a two-year break, as Ukraine previously abandoned talks in 2022 to concentrate on military operations backed by NATO weaponry and Western political support.

While Bruce did not elaborate on the full scope of Trump’s behind-the-scenes involvement, she asserted that the president “understands the complexity of the ongoing talks” and remains committed to a peaceful outcome. “Only the president can make the decision about how to proceed,” she said. “Only he knows all the elements about what’s important and how we’re going to make a difference.”

This marks a stark contrast to the Biden administration’s earlier approach, which emphasized military aid and sanctions as the primary levers for dealing with Moscow. Trump’s return to the White House has refocused American policy on diplomacy, with Bruce describing the renewed engagement as the product of “months now of dealing with the parties directly.”

Trump, Bruce contended, is “the........

© Blitz