On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced ongoing doubt about Russia's intentions in the Ukraine negotiations for peace, warning that Moscow could be "tapping us along" after the first direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine in three years, which concluded without a ceasefire deal.
In an interview scheduled to air Sunday on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Rubio revealed he had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to gain insight into the discussions held on Friday in Istanbul.
“They were not a complete waste of time,” Rubio remarked, adding, “Are they tapping us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out.”
The Istanbul negotiations lasted less than two hours, without obtaining a ceasefire, although the two parties promised to swap 1,000 prisoners on each side. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion that they meet in person in Turkey and instead sent a lower-level delegation.
Rubio understood the dilemma of the need for patience versus urgency. "One hand, we're trying to get peace and close up a very bloody, expensive and devastating war… On the other hand, we can't afford to waste time," he said, adding that there are other pressing issues of concern in the world.
He also proposed that serious progress could hinge on a direct summit between Trump and Putin. "The president wishes to do it. He wants to do it as quickly as possible," Rubio stated, noting that specifics like the site and timing are still to be determined. He cited the Vatican—suggesting hosting peace talks there—as a possible "comfortable" venue for everyone concerned.
These are the words of the American leader before a pivotal Monday, when US President Donald Trump will speak by telephone with both Putin and Zelenskyy. "Hopefully it will be a good day, a ceasefire will occur, and this very bloody war, a war that should have never occurred, will cease," Trump posted on social media.
In spite of Trump's constant optimism for making peace, the recent violence puts any short-term solution into doubt. Saturday, a Russian drone attack on a civilian bus in Ukraine's Sumy region killed nine individuals and injured multiple others, Ukrainian officials reported. Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a "deliberate attack on civilians."
Though Zelenskyy has accepted Trump's invitation to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Ukrainian leaders are cautious about the US administration's inconsistent policy. Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said in an interview with The New York Times, "Such inconsistency, illogical steps and lack of strategy undermine US credibility."
Critics say Trump's position threatens to reward Russia's intransigent stance and push Ukraine into making unwanted concessions. Defence analyst Mick Ryan, as quoted by The New York Times, said, "Putin's primary goal is snuffing out Ukraine's democracy and culture, denying it agency in its own affairs."
As world leaders converged on Rome for the first Mass of Pope Leo XIV, Rubio, who was in attendance, pointed out the new pope's "very generous proposal" to host peace talks. During his first blessing, Pope Leo called on all to strive for "an authentic, just and lasting peace.
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