US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Comments on Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
In a recent statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of understanding the concessions that Ukraine is willing to make to bring an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia. This comes as delegations from Kyiv and Washington prepare for crucial discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Before departing for Jeddah, Rubio remarked, “We want to listen to see how far they’re willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want.” He underscored the necessity for both parties to come away with a clear understanding that Ukraine must be ready to make difficult decisions, just as Russia will need to do, in order to conclude this conflict or at least find a temporary resolution.
Rubio acknowledged the challenges of discussing concessions in the aftermath of prolonged hostilities, stating, “It’s hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions, but that’s the only way this is going to end and prevent more suffering.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed that Kyiv’s approach in Tuesday’s talks will be “fully constructive,” with hopes for practical outcomes. It is anticipated that the Ukrainian delegation may propose a ceasefire encompassing the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, in addition to discussions surrounding the release of prisoners.
Rubio reiterated the need for both sides to recognize that “there’s no military solution to this situation.” He noted, “The Russians can’t conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it’ll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014.” He also commended Britain and France for their ongoing support throughout this crisis.
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer conveyed to Donald Trump his desire for the talks in Jeddah to yield a “positive outcome,” which would include the resumption of military aid and intelligence-sharing. This comes after Trump paused the supply of essential weapons and intelligence to Kyiv amid a public dispute with President Zelensky.
In a separate development, military leaders from prospective members of the so-called “coalition of the willing” are set to convene in Paris, with French officials indicating that around 30 nations could be involved. Sir Keir is expected to lead a call with aligned partners from this coalition on Saturday.
Kyiv is actively seeking to mend relations following the public disagreement between the two leaders during Zelensky’s meeting with Trump and JD Vance at the White House last month. Interestingly, Rubio and Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia just hours apart on Monday but did not have the opportunity to meet.
With agencies
