The United States has confirmed preparations for a high-level summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as Washington hailed a historic peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan and released a revamped 2024 Human Rights Report.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to begin preparations for the anticipated meeting.
“I can confirm for you that Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov… regarding preparation for the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Bruce said.
“Both sides confirmed their commitment to a successful event. I can also tell you that it was President Putin who called to make this arrangement.”
Bruce emphasized that President Trump views the engagement as exploratory rather than a negotiation, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
“The President is not calling this a negotiation,” she said. “This is really a feel-out meeting… to see exactly what was possible.”
Quoting President Trump directly, Bruce relayed his position on the Ukraine conflict: “I’m going to meet with President Putin. And we’re going to see what he has in mind,” Trump said.
“And if it’s a fair deal, I’ll reveal it to the European Union leaders, and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelenskyy… And then I’ll call them afterwards.”
“The death is incredible. It’s the worst thing that’s happened by far… I’m going in to speak to Putin and I’m going to be telling him you’ve got to end this war, you’ve got to end it.”
At the same briefing, the State Department announced it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Colombian Senator Uribe, describing his killing as a blow to democracy.
“His leadership and vision for Colombia’s future were evident throughout his years of public service,” Bruce said.
“His contributions to Colombia’s democratic future, though obscenely halted, will endure and inspire future generations.”
She confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau would travel to Bogotá to attend the memorial service on August 13.
Bruce also announced a landmark diplomatic breakthrough between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed at the White House last week.
“The declaration of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan has reaffirmed that President Trump is indeed the president of peace,” she said.
She described the agreement as:“A historic joint declaration for peace after decades of bitter conflict and too many lives lost — a landmark achievement for international diplomacy.”
The two countries also signed bilateral economic agreements with the United States, opening opportunities in “trade, transit, energy, infrastructure, and technology.”
Bruce credited Trump with resolving or advancing peace in several global conflicts, including:
“Cambodia and Thailand, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.”
The State Department also unveiled the 2024 Human Rights Report, describing it as streamlined and less politicized.
“The Human Rights Report has been restructured in a way that removes redundancy, increases report readability, and is responsive to the legislative mandates that underpin the report,” Bruce said.
She added:“The calendar year 2024 individual reports are more readable, objective, true to their statutory origins, and more useful than ever before.”
Bruce reaffirmed America’s human rights principles, quoting the nation’s founding documents:
“Human beings are ‘endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, [including] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”
Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Bruce said more than 120 million meals had been delivered through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
“Nothing will ever be enough in a war zone,” she said. “The war zone has to stop. It has to end.”
She reiterated US calls for Israel to investigate civilian deaths:
“We call on our ally and partner Israel to investigate these situations… We expect investigations.”
However, she rejected claims that Israel does not investigate such incidents:
“To say that Israel every time has failed to do that is not true.”
At the close of the briefing, Bruce confirmed President Trump’s intention to nominate her as Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, marking her final briefing as State Department spokesperson.
“I was astounded then and remain deeply honored and grateful for the President’s trust in me,” she said.
She thanked journalists and State Department staff, noting: “With your help, we made the daily press briefings relatable, enhancing transparency and giving the American people the foreign policy news and insight they deserve.”
Bruce concluded:“This remarkable chapter in my life continues… and my commitment to speak directly and clearly about President Trump’s America First foreign policy agenda will continue to inform all of my work.”
