US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that currently, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia involving the United States are not taking place. According to Rubio, Washington is ready to continue acting as a mediator in this process, but at this moment, there are no conditions for productive dialogue.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Status of the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia
Rubio explained that the US participated in the negotiations because both parties – Ukrainian and Russian – agreed to conduct dialogue specifically with US mediation. However, as the Secretary of State noted, these negotiations turned out to be ineffective. He emphasized that the US is open to further participation if a real opportunity for a fruitful outcome arises, rather than just for formal meetings.
“They (the negotiations – ed.) were not productive, unfortunately. We are ready to continue playing this role. Despite leaks that are not true, despite stories that we are forcing Ukrainians into this position or that one, which is false, if we see an opportunity to organize negotiations that are productive, rather than counterproductive, that have a chance of being fruitful, we are ready to play this role,” Rubio said.
According to the diplomat, negotiations are not currently taking place, but Washington hopes for a change in the situation. He emphasized that the conflict can only end as a result of agreements at the negotiating table, not through military means in the classical sense. Rubio also added that US President Donald Trump is “very interested” in finding a productive solution.
Prospects for resumption and conditions for negotiations
As the Secretary of State noted, the United States has no intention of participating in unproductive meetings that do not yield tangible progress. According to sources, the situation has been complicated by the escalation in the Middle East, causing the trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia, which took place during January and February, to be postponed indefinitely.
The Financial Times, citing its sources, notes that both Moscow and Kyiv do not expect a quick resumption of peace negotiations mediated by the US even after the conflict in the Middle East concludes. According to the publication, both sides currently see no point in continuing negotiations. Ukraine, according to this information, believes that the process hit a dead end back in February after the last round of dialogue with Russia and expresses disappointment that the US could not influence Putin’s position.
At the same time, the Russian authorities officially demand the transfer of the entire Donbas as a key condition for a peaceful settlement and hint that they allegedly received consent for this from the US president during his meeting with Putin in Anchorage last year.
The Ukrainian side, since last year when the US became a mediator, has been proposing to cease hostilities along the front line. In this case, most of the Ukrainian Donbas, but not the entire region, would remain under the control of the Russian Federation, but Ukraine has no intention of legally recognizing this.