US stepping back from peace talks role to end war between Russia and Ukraine: State Department official

( NYPost )

The US is stepping back from its involvement in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war, a State Department official signaled Thursday.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that the US “will not be the mediators” going forward, reflecting President Trump’s frustration at the lack of progress between Kyiv and Moscow in ending the bloodshed.

“We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings,” she said, adding that the US remains committed to helping reach a deal.

“It is now between the two parties, and now — now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. It’s going to be up to them,” Bruce said.

Bruce said the Trump administration has been frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin seemingly dragging his feet on taking any meaningful steps towards peace despite repeatedly saying he’s ready to do so.

“We are watching Putin’s actions, right, not his words. And in the process, he’s refined a very specific timeline. Weeks ago it was weeks; a few days ago it was days,” she said.

“This would be a pivotal week,” she added.

Bruce’s comments come as the US finally inked a lucrative minerals deal with Ukraine Wednesday after two months of intense negotiations, potentially souring Moscow’s willingness to come to the table.

The agreement created a shared investment fund to which both nations will contribute — with Washington having the option to earn credit toward their contributions in the form of military equipment, technology or training it gives to Kyiv’s forces.

Ongoing deliveries of military aid approved by Congress under former President Joe Biden are expected to run out next month and it is unclear whether the Republican-controlled House will sign off on additional materiel.

However, Ukraine has continued to purchase weapons and equipment directly from US manufacturers. On Tuesday, the State Department informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it had signed off on a license for “the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Ukraine” worth at least $50 million.

Ukrainian sources have also told The Post that they hope the mineral deal will persuade the US government to sell military equipment directly to Kyiv, which Washington has resisted in the past.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky last month said he asked Trump if Ukraine could purchase up to 10 Patriot missile systems — which are only made by the US — for $15 billion, only to be turned down by the president.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have similarly said that it’s ultimately up to Ukraine and Russia to make their own peace.

“It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,” Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” show.

As the conflict currently stands, Vance said, “It’s not going anywhere.”

“It’s not going to end any time soon,” he said.

“For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?”

Rubio, appearing separately on Fox News’ “Hannity”, said that unless a “real breakthrough” is made soon, President Trump “is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we’re going to dedicate to this.”

The Kremlin on Monday declared a 72-hour pause in fighting next week to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany — but officials believe it’s a public relations stunt rather than a move towards ending the war.

The temporary truce is set to start at midnight on May 8 and last until the end of May 10, which aligns with Moscow’s Victory Day holiday.