'Not going to be discussed!' Combative State Dept spokesperson snaps over Ukraine question
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce grew increasingly combative during a CNN interview Wednesday, when she repeatedly refused to answer a question about a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, exclaiming, "That's not what we're going to do here!"
The confrontation began when anchor Pamela Brown asked about the U.S. threat to walk away from peace talks with Russia and Ukraine over the issue of Crimea.
"Most of what you're asking also relies on speculation, relies on maybe an individual report, or rumors, or even gossip," Bruce said before Brown interjected, "What, specifically?"
"All of what you you said is details, maybe regarding what was reported or mused about what may be presented, but that's not what we're going to do here! And that doesn't help the nature of the genuine conversations, the genuine summits, the genuine exchanges between leaders."
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Brown followed up: "What I said is actually what Zelensky himself said, this wasn't just, you know, reporting that's floating around out there by anonymous sources. Zelensky, himself, said that he will not accept Russia controlling Crimea, which is part of the U.S. proposal."
"Let's make something quite clear here," Bruce stated. "This is not going to be discussed on TV, not between you or me. It's not going to be a discussion over TV or television or dinner or anywhere else that these are — President Zelensky, I respect a great deal, and he's going to say what he needs to say. But there's a reason why you do want to be able to sit down and talk. And it's why the secretary is being committed to that constantly for the last 100 days... and it's working because it's not a debate on television."
After Brown asked how long the talks would continue, Bruce snapped "Just a minute!"
"These individuals, what they know in their private conversations through diplomatic negotiations and conversations and meetings is not something that is fair to discuss on television or speculate about or muse about!"
Brown tried again, repeating her question, which drew Bruce's ire.
"I've answered this...I've answered you multiple times!" Bruce exclaimed before the two continued to argue over each other.
