The Secretary of State said Thursday that U.S. diplomacy is testing whether Russia intends to pursue a real peace in Ukraine, and he expects a clearer answer in weeks, not months. "We will know from their answers very soon whether they are serious about proceeding with real peace or whether there's a delay tactic," he said.

Nut graf: The administration emphasized that negotiating progress will be judged by actions on the ground—particularly ceasefire compliance—rather than statements. The secretary said the Ukrainians have shown willingness to enter a complete ceasefire to create space for negotiations.

In his remarks, the secretary said he met this week with a Russian interlocutor and described follow-up messages to be taken to Moscow. He cautioned that partial ceasefires raise disputes about what is being targeted and reiterated that the United States does not want "negotiations about negotiations." "If you're interested in peace, you stop fighting," he said.

Reporters asked whether recent strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure or religious sites would signal bad faith; the secretary said renewed large-scale offensive operations would be a clear sign Russian leaders were not serious about peace. He also said Congress is preparing bills to increase sanctions, which would add pressure if negotiations stall.

The secretary declined to provide precise timelines for every step but said officials expect to gauge seriousness within weeks. He said the ultimate decision rests with Russian leadership and that the United States is prepared to respond if talks are a delay tactic.