Rubio cautiously optimistic about possible ceasefire in Ukraine

Rubio spoke to reporters on Friday after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Canada, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Commenting on the talks of US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Thursday, Rubio noted: “We are in a better position today. I believe – we have reason to be hopeful – than we were a week ago. But we still have a long way to go.”

The US is trying to determine how ready Russia is for a ceasefire, the Secretary of State said.

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“So cautious optimism is probably the most appropriate wording I can use at this point in time, based on the data we have,” the diplomat noted.

Asked whether Russia was using delaying tactics, Rubio said he could not give a definitive assessment: “I think we will find out soon, and a lot will depend on what Ambassador Witkoff said yesterday and other relevant factors, but we have not yet achieved our goal,” he added.

Rubio stressed that it is important to “separate” the two aspects: “A ceasefire and the conditions under which everyone stops shooting at each other. What it will take for everyone to cease fire and then sit down at the negotiating table to finally resolve the conflict.”

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In this second phase, the discussion could include the proposition that “every country in the world has the right to security, to self-defense, to defend its territory,” Rubio said.

According to the Secretary of State, since the European Union has imposed significant sanctions against Russian legal entities and individuals, the EU “will need to be consulted and involved in this process.”

“Let's not predetermine or put anything first. The process of defining what long-term security means for Ukraine will be something that Ukraine will obviously have to agree to, and that will have to be worked out in this second phase,” he explained.

“We believe that it is extremely difficult to negotiate lasting peace and security in conditions of total war,” he added.

Rubio noted that Trump has twice in the past week raised proposals to increase U.S. sanctions against Russia, “but he doesn't want to do that at this point because he's in the process of engaging both sides in negotiations where we can achieve peace.”

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As reported by Ukrinform, Putin stated that Moscow agreed to the proposal to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine, while simultaneously setting out its own conditions for Russia.

Photo: Official State Department