US to step back as mediators in Russia, Ukraine war if there is no progress: State Department

WASHINGTON

The US will step back from its mediator role between Russia and Ukraine unless the warring parties put forward "concrete proposals" to end the conflict, the State Department said Tuesday.

Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told her, "We are now at a time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties on how to end this conflict."

"How we proceed from here is a decision that belongs now to the president (Donald Trump). If there is no progress, we will step back as mediators in this process," said Bruce.

The threat to walk away has been said for more than a week by senior officials, including Trump, Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, as the US administration seeks to pressure Kyiv and Moscow into agreeing to a ceasefire.

Russia on Monday unilaterally declared a temporary three-day truce from May 8-10 as it prepares to mark the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany during World War II.

Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have, however, called for a permanent halt to the hostilities.

“Now, yet again, another attempt at manipulation: for some reason, everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire – just to provide (Russian President Vladimir) Putin with silence for his parade," Zelenskyy said in a video message on Telegram.

“We value human lives, not parades. That’s why we believe – and the world believes – that there is no reason to wait until May 8,” the Ukrainian leader added.

Zelenskyy stressed that any ceasefire should not be temporary but “immediate, full and unconditional – for at least 30 days to ensure it is secure and guaranteed.”

“This is the foundation that could lead to real diplomacy,” he said. The president also noted that the Russian military continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.