US Department of US Department Avoid a Direct Answer on Witcoff’s words about the occupied territories of Ukraine

In response to the questions of journalists on the statements of Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witcoff about the possible international recognition of Crimea, Donbass and other occupied regions of Ukraine as Russian, spokeswoman for the State Department of Temmy Bruce did not comment on the position.

During a briefing on March 24, she stressed that the current US administration does not speculate on issues discussed within the framework of confidential diplomatic processes.

“What we know – and I would like to go back to the essence of what we try to do here and what we have said is what we stand, first of all, one task that everyone is doing, namely: to provide peace in this region … and this is the only thing we are working on in Saudi now. This is the only thing that focuses on the President, ”Bruce said.

She stressed that the United States, together with partners, is focused on achieving a complete ceasefire. According to her, only after that it will be possible to discuss further steps, including prolonged peace.

Bruce, answering the journalist’s questions about how the United States plans to restore the trust of Ukrainians after the statements of a special envoy Steve Vitcoff, who partially reflect the Russian position, stressed that the main thing is the focus on the result.

“I urge people to look at the nature of what we do here and the end result. This is not a television show. These are the people who work to achieve the end result with whom everyone agrees. There is no one in the world who would like all this, ”she said.

At the end of last week, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witcoff interviewed Taeru Carlson. In it, Vitcoff stated that the inhabitants of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions voted in a “referendum” for being under the control of Russia. According to him, the territories de facto are under the control of Russia, and the main discussion is whether the world recognizes them by Russian.

In September 2022, Russia held referendums in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions of Ukraine. They were controlled by Russian troops, without international observation and with numerous reports of coercion and falsification. The international community, including the UN and the EU, has recognized these “referendums” illegal and not legal.

In 2014, Russia organized referendums in the Crimea and in the Donbass. Their results are also not recognized by Ukraine and the international community.