US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that Ukraine and Europe will be involved in any meaningful peace negotiations with Russia. Upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia will test Moscow’s commitment, amid concerns over US diplomatic moves and European security.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured that Ukraine and Europe will be involved in any substantial negotiations to end Moscow’s war, stressing that upcoming discussions with Russia in Saudi Arabia will serve as a test of President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to peace.
Speaking on CBS, Rubio sought to allay European concerns about being excluded from the initial US-Russia talks, clarifying that negotiations had not yet begun in earnest. If they progress, he emphasised, Ukraine and European allies would be included.
Earlier, Reuters reported that US officials had asked European counterparts how many troops they could contribute to enforcing a potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
"President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin last week, during which Putin expressed an interest in peace. The president made clear his desire for a lasting resolution that safeguards Ukrainian sovereignty," Rubio stated on Meet the Press. However, he cautioned that a single phone call would not be decisive, and the coming weeks would determine Russia’s sincerity in ending the conflict.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz were due to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening, Witkoff confirmed in a Fox News interview. Rubio noted that his presence there was part of previously scheduled official travel. The composition of the Russian delegation remains undetermined.
The discussions coincide with US efforts to secure investment opportunities in Ukraine’s natural resources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an NBC interview, questioned whether mineral-rich territories currently under Russian control would be ceded to Moscow as part of a potential settlement.
Trump, who spoke with Putin on Wednesday, expressed confidence that the Russian leader does not seek full control of Ukraine. “That would have been a big problem for me—you just can’t allow that,” he told reporters in Florida, adding that Zelenskiy would be involved in any peace discussions.
European concerns over exclusion
While Rubio and Witkoff dismissed fears that European nations would be sidelined, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, had suggested otherwise at the Munich Security Conference.
Witkoff pointed out that Ukrainian officials had recently met with several US representatives at the conference and that Trump had held direct talks with Zelenskiy. Rubio reiterated that European involvement would be essential.
“If we reach the stage of real negotiations—and we are not there yet—Ukraine must be part of the process, as the nation under attack. European countries will also play a role due to the sanctions they have imposed on Russia,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host an emergency summit on Monday to discuss the latest developments, following European unease over recent US actions regarding Ukraine, Russia, and defence policy.
European leaders have voiced increasing concerns about the reliability of US military support and the possibility of a peace deal that could undermine Kyiv’s position and European security.
Asked whether he had discussed lifting sanctions on Russia during a call with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio declined to confirm, stating only that details were not discussed. Moscow, however, claimed the conversation addressed the removal of “unilateral barriers” imposed by the previous US administration.
Rubio acknowledged that diplomatic relations between Washington and Moscow remain strained, noting that any progress on Ukraine would require both nations to have fully operational embassies in each other’s capitals.
Senior officials from the United States and Georgia met in Tbilisi to review bilateral relations and regional security amid ongoing diplomatic discussions.
Iran has condemned the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations as “meaningless” after Israel’s largest strike on Iranian targets, accusing Washington of backing the attack. The planned sixth round of talks faces uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
The Trump administration has deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to growing protests over intensified immigration raids, sparking legal challenges and political divisions.
Los Angeles is experiencing widespread protests, a National Guard deployment, and increased public concern following recent immigration enforcement actions and confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Southern California Edison’s upgraded wildfire models misjudged the Eaton Canyon fire’s scale by tenfold, raising concerns over its disaster preparedness as the blaze became one of the most destructive in U.S. history.
Kazakhstan will create six new nature conservation institutions to preserve biodiversity, aiming to increase protected territories to 12.5% of the national area.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplayed NATO’s new 5% defence spending target, saying it won’t have a major impact on Russia’s security and accusing the alliance of exaggerating the threat his country poses.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov’s first visit to Malaysia in 30 years sealed a raft of deals on energy, halal industry and tourism. Both nations say the trip launches a “strategic partnership” to match their fast-growing economies.
Germany will halt funding for Mediterranean migrant rescue missions, redirecting aid to conflict-hit regions like Sudan, in a move critics warn will worsen the humanitarian crisis at sea.
Kazakhstan’s industrial sector grew by 6.4% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, driven by increased oil production and strong performance in manufacturing, according to Halyk Finance.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Congress to shut down the Voice of America, accusing the taxpayer-funded broadcaster of promoting radical leftist views and calling it a "total, leftwing disaster."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplayed NATO’s new 5% defence spending target, saying it won’t have a major impact on Russia’s security and accusing the alliance of exaggerating the threat his country poses.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov’s first visit to Malaysia in 30 years sealed a raft of deals on energy, halal industry and tourism. Both nations say the trip launches a “strategic partnership” to match their fast-growing economies.
Germany will halt funding for Mediterranean migrant rescue missions, redirecting aid to conflict-hit regions like Sudan, in a move critics warn will worsen the humanitarian crisis at sea.
China’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticised NATO for inflating military spending and interfering in Asia-Pacific affairs, rejecting claims that China supports Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Kazakhstan will create six new nature conservation institutions to preserve biodiversity, aiming to increase protected territories to 12.5% of the national area.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplayed NATO’s new 5% defence spending target, saying it won’t have a major impact on Russia’s security and accusing the alliance of exaggerating the threat his country poses.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov’s first visit to Malaysia in 30 years sealed a raft of deals on energy, halal industry and tourism. Both nations say the trip launches a “strategic partnership” to match their fast-growing economies.
Germany will halt funding for Mediterranean migrant rescue missions, redirecting aid to conflict-hit regions like Sudan, in a move critics warn will worsen the humanitarian crisis at sea.
Kazakhstan’s industrial sector grew by 6.4% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, driven by increased oil production and strong performance in manufacturing, according to Halyk Finance.
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