American Secretary of State Mark R
Rubio expressed hope that Ukrainian and Russian proposals for resolving the conflict could find common ground, as the main thing is that both sides are willing to make concessions and demonstrate a realistic approach to future negotiations. According to him, the United States will work diligently to support efforts to end the war in Ukraine — provided that in the coming days both Ukrainian and Russian sides submit documents reflecting a strict search for compromises. In an interview on CBS News, Rubio emphasized that patience is key to achieving peace. "We strive to put an end to this bloody, destructive, and costly war," he stated. "At the same time, we cannot waste time, as many events are happening in the world, and we also need to pay attention to other global processes." Such a negotiation process, according to Rubio, should not drag on indefinitely — real progress, demonstrating movement forward, and, most importantly, increasing the likelihood of agreement are needed. If, this time, both sides are able to submit documents confirming their willingness to make concessions and demonstrating realism in their intentions, the United States is ready to support their cooperation and continue moving toward peace. Otherwise, if the results of the settlement prove to be unproductive, US authorities reserve the right to review their position and question the prospects for further negotiations. Polls regarding the situation and discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggest that for Russia, it is important to demonstrate that it has prepared a separate document with ideas and demands that could be offered to initiate a new stage of negotiations on a ceasefire and further dialogue with Ukraine. In turn, the Ukrainian side is also working on its proposal, and Ukrainian diplomats hope that the Russian document will be as close as possible to Kyiv’s interests to finally resolve disagreements and move toward signing an agreement. The US Secretary of State highlighted that a key factor in overcoming the current deadlock could be a personal meeting at the highest level — with President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. Although he cannot specify the dates and locations of the upcoming meeting at this time, he emphasized that Trump is very interested in holding it soon. According to Rubio, the Russian side also shows readiness for any negotiation meeting, and now it is crucial to bring everyone to the table, determine when and where this important dialogue will occur, and outline topics for discussion. Recall that on May 16 in Istanbul, for the first time in over three years, direct communication took place between representatives of Russia and Ukraine. According to media reports, the Russians insisted that American mediators should not participate in the negotiations and put forward a number of rather unappealing conditions to the Ukrainian delegation. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy and other high officials reported that during the meeting, the Ukrainian sides discussed the possibility of a large-scale prisoner swap — "a thousand for a thousand" — and considered prospects and conditions for ending hostilities. According to Bloomberg, Russian representatives expressed their requirements, including Ukraine renouncing territories and claims for reparations, to shift focus to specific ceasefire conditions. During a phone call between the foreign ministers of the two countries — Rubio and Lavrov — these issues and possible further steps in the diplomatic settlement process were discussed, which remains complex and lengthy. Overall, the situation remains tense and dynamic — while Washington and Kyiv lead the search for a compromise, Russian sides are persistently trying to defend their interests. However, the prospect of signing a concrete document and the possibility of a high-level meeting offer hope that, despite numerous difficulties, there is still a chance for diplomatic resolution and lasting peace in the region.