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The U.S. Department of State has reacted to Sunday’s deadly incident in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), stressing the use of force undermines peace talks.

Three Artsakh police officers were killed and another was wounded after an Azerbaijani sabotage group ambushed their vehicle near Stepanakert on Sunday morning.

Two Azeri soldiers were killed in the ensuing firefight which was stopped by Russian peacekeepers stationed in Artsakh.

“We’re following reports of a shooting incident on March 5 inside Nagorno-Karabakh which killed five individuals, we understand. We offer our condolences to the families of those injured and killed,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a press briefing on Monday.

“There can be no military solution to conflict, and the use of force to resolve disputes is never acceptable. The only way to sustain peace is at the negotiating table and to – and the use of force undermines negotiations. Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono is in the region to stress the only way forward is through direct dialogue and diplomacy. And as the Secretary has emphasized, the United States is committed to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations,” he stated.