Rubio Unveils Trump’s Goals for Potential Talks with Putin on Ukraine
An important meeting is scheduled for Friday in Washington between U.S.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could serve as a pivotal moment in seeking ways to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Sources within the U.S.
government report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a briefing at the State Department, outlined the objectives for this bilateral meeting.
According to him, the upcoming negotiations will delve into issues of security, territorial claims, and the root causes of the armed confrontation.
Rubio emphasized that Trump’s primary aim is to secure at least a temporary ceasefire, creating the conditions necessary for broader and more comprehensive negotiations in the future.
He pointed out that prolonged wars tend to complicate resolution efforts, and thus immediate cessation of hostilities is crucial.
Rubio added that the United States stands ready to do its utmost to promote peace but emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with Ukraine and Russia.
The preparatory work for the face-to-face meeting is already underway, and it will occur within a very tight timeframe.
Trump has already spoken by phone four times with Putin and has concluded that it is time for a personal meeting — to look each other in the eye and determine possible solutions.
Rubio expressed optimism that the discussions could pave the way toward peace, and early signals from the initial stage of the talks would reveal whether real prospects exist.
He also noted that the initial plan is to assess the potential for agreements on the very first day of negotiations.
Previously, Trump stated that he estimates a 25% chance that talks with Putin will fail, adding an element of uncertainty about what the future holds.