U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that the upcoming week will be "very critical" for Russia-Ukraine negotiations, emphasizing that both sides are still not "close enough" to a deal.
Rubio made these remarks during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, underscoring the urgency of reaching an agreement soon.
“It needs to start happening … I think this is going to be a very critical week,” Rubio said, stressing the importance of making significant progress in the ongoing peace talks. He acknowledged that the Trump administration has made "real progress" in efforts to end the three-year-long conflict, but warned that the "last couple steps" toward an agreement remain the most challenging.
Rubio further noted that if a deal does not materialize soon, the U.S. may need to reassess its involvement. "It needs to happen soon. We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition," he added. He explained that the administration must soon decide whether to remain actively engaged in the negotiations or shift focus to other priorities.
“If it doesn’t come to fruition, then as a nation-state there are options that we have for those who we hold responsible for not wanting the peace. But we prefer not to get to that stage yet because we think it closes the door to diplomacy,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s comments followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome on Saturday, where both leaders attended the funeral of Pope Francis. The meeting was described as "productive" by both the U.S. and Ukrainian sides. Trump later shared his thoughts on Truth Social, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be genuinely interested in ending the war, hinting at potential alternative measures, including “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions.”
The talks between Russia and Ukraine continue to be a focal point for international diplomacy, with the coming week seen as a pivotal moment for the future of the peace process.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Servic...
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes milita...
The Left Party won Sunday's Berlin state election with 25.5 per cent of the vote in the preliminary result, ahead of the Christian Democra...
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
Russian authorities have reported attacks on voting systems and communication lines as the country’s parliamentary election entered its second day on Saturday (19 September).
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has prepared sanctions targeting the entire International Criminal Court (ICC) and could announce them soon, escalating Washington's efforts to pressure the global tribunal.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged closer ties on Sunday as they sought to strengthen cooperation on geopolitical tensions, climate change, energy and the protection of democratic values.
The Left Party won Sunday's Berlin state election with 25.5 per cent of the vote in the preliminary result, ahead of the Christian Democrats (CDU) on 19.1 per cent. This marks a major shift in the city's political landscape and a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's ruling coalition.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
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