Rubio states that Ukraine and Europe will be part of real peace talks as the U.S. evaluates Putin’s intentions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that any genuine negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict initiated by Moscow would involve Ukraine and Europe. This indicates that the upcoming discussions between the U.S. and Russia could provide insight into Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s commitment to achieving peace.

Rubio addressed European apprehensions regarding their exclusion from the initial talks scheduled to occur in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. In an interview with CBS, he emphasized that a substantial negotiation process had not yet commenced, and should discussions progress, Ukrainian and other European representatives would be included.

Earlier reports from Reuters indicated that U.S. officials had provided European counterparts with a questionnaire inquiring about their potential troop contributions to uphold a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

Rubio mentioned, “President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin last week, during which Putin conveyed his interest in peace, and the president expressed his hope for a resolution that would be lasting and safeguard Ukrainian sovereignty,” in an appearance on CBS’s “Meet the Press.”

He added, “However, this must be followed by concrete actions, and the forthcoming days and weeks will reveal the seriousness of the intentions. Ultimately, a single phone call does not equate to peace.”

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz were scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening, as Witkoff shared in a Fox News interview. Rubio also mentioned that he was already set to travel to Saudi Arabia for previously scheduled official duties, noting that the details of the Russian delegation had yet to be confirmed.

The upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia align with a U.S. initiative aimed at negotiating a deal with Kyiv to facilitate American investment in Ukraine’s abundant natural resources. In an NBC interview aired on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised concerns about whether minerals located in Russian-occupied territories would be handed over to Putin.

Former President Trump, who spoke with Putin on Wednesday and asserted that the Russian leader desires peace, expressed confidence on Sunday that Putin would not attempt to seize control of all of Ukraine. “That would have posed a significant issue for me, as such an action cannot be permitted. I believe he wants to bring this to a conclusion,” Trump stated to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida. He also mentioned that Zelenskiy would participate in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict.

CONCERNS ABOUT EUROPEAN PARTICIPATION IN PEACE TALKS

Senators Rubio and Witkoff dismissed worries that Ukraine and other European leaders would be excluded from peace negotiations, despite comments made by Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, suggesting otherwise at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. Witkoff highlighted in an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that Ukrainian officials had engaged with several U.S. representatives at the conference, and Trump had spoken with Zelenskiy the previous week.

Rubio emphasized that Ukrainians and other European nations would be integral to any substantial negotiations. “Eventually, if genuine negotiations occur—and we are not at that stage yet—Ukraine must be involved since they are the ones who faced invasion, and European nations must participate due to their sanctions against Putin and Russia,” Rubio remarked. “We are simply not at that point yet.” French President Emmanuel Macron is set to convene European leaders on Monday for an emergency summit regarding the Ukraine conflict, as announced by Macron’s office.

European officials have expressed their astonishment and concern regarding the recent actions taken by the Trump administration related to Ukraine, Russia, and European defense. Their primary worry is the potential loss of U.S. military support and the possibility that Trump may pursue a peace agreement with Putin that could compromise Ukraine’s interests and the overall security of Europe.

When asked about discussions on lifting sanctions against Russia during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio refrained from confirming any specifics, stating only that they “did not go into any details.” Following the conversation, Moscow indicated that the two had talked about the removal of “unilateral barriers” imposed by the previous U.S. administration in their bilateral relations.

Rubio mentioned that he raised the issue of the “difficult” operational conditions faced by the U.S. embassy in Moscow with Lavrov. He emphasized that for any meaningful progress in peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, it is essential for both Russia and the U.S. to have fully functioning embassies in each other’s countries.