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.
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