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State Department urges diplomacy in Russia‑Ukraine conflict, calls for restraint after reported large Russian air strikes
Summary
The State Department emphasized that there is no military solution to the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, described recent Russian air strikes as extensive, and said the U.S. continues to support direct talks between the parties while warning of possible policy adjustments if progress stalls.
The State Department told reporters it believes the Russia‑Ukraine conflict requires a diplomatic solution and warned against further escalation after reports of intensive Russian air strikes over the weekend.
The spokesperson said U.S. officials monitored reports that “this weekend's air strikes by Russia constituted the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war” and called for restraint. “We continue to support direct talks between Russia and Ukraine,” the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. president “supports any mechanism that leads to a just durable and lasting peace.”
Reporters asked whether the United States would adjust assistance or bring added pressure if negotiations do not progress. The spokesperson said the administration had a range of tools at its disposal and that public statements from the president reflected serious concern; she declined to specify particular policy moves in the briefing. The spokesperson reiterated the administration’s opposition to a purely military solution and emphasized the need for direct negotiations.
The briefing also included an exchange about whether Russia had provided a proposed memorandum or timeline for a ceasefire; the spokesperson said she could not confirm specifics about timelines or agreements and pointed reporters to public statements by senior officials for further interpretation.
The department framed its posture as supporting diplomacy while reserving the right to alter approaches if high‑level talks do not yield progress.
