The United States will no longer act as lead mediator in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the State Department said today, signaling a change in Washington’s role in the ongoing conflict.

Tammy Bruce, a U.S. department spokeswoman, said the U.S. was changing “the methodology by which it contributes” to the talks and would no longer “travel around the world on the slightest occasion” for meetings. We will continue to help, but we will no longer travel around the world as facilitators in meetings,” Bruce told reporters.

“Now it is up to the two sides, the time has come for them to present and develop concrete ideas to end this conflict. It is up to them.”

Earlier, US Vice President J.D. Vance warned that the war in Ukraine does not look like it is likely to end anytime soon, saying it is now up to Kiev and Moscow to reach an agreement.