Rubio says US may withdraw from Russia-Ukraine talks if no progress made

After weeks of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to provide an update on the progress of the peace talks. Rubio tempered expectations for a major peace agreement, stating that a deal is “still not there.” Despite real progress being made, Rubio emphasized that the last steps of the journey towards peace would be the most challenging.

Rubio stressed the importance of reaching a resolution soon, stating that continued dedication of time and resources to the issue would only be justified if a fruitful outcome was in sight. He highlighted the need for both sides to come to a mutual agreement and expressed uncertainty about the timeline for the U.S. to pull out from its role as a mediator in the negotiations.

The Secretary of State described the upcoming week as critical, indicating that a decision would need to be made on whether to continue involvement in the mediation efforts or shift focus to other pressing issues. Rubio’s remarks came as President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican, following a public spat between the two leaders in February.

While details of the meeting were scarce, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described it as “very productive.” Zelenskyy later characterized the meeting as “symbolic” and potentially “historic.” The meeting took place amidst stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides making conflicting demands.

President Trump expressed optimism about the progress of the negotiations, urging for an end to the bloodshed and calling for high-level meetings to finalize the deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the negotiations, emphasizing the need for confidentiality in such discussions.

Despite the lack of concrete details, Lavrov confirmed Russia’s willingness to engage in dialogue and stated that the two presidents, Trump and Putin, would determine the timing of any potential meeting. As the negotiations continue, the international community watches closely for signs of progress towards a lasting peace agreement in the region.