US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the US are currently not taking place, and previous rounds have not yielded the expected results. He made this announcement after a meeting with NATO diplomats in Sweden.
This is reported by Finway
US Position on Peace Settlement
According to Marco Rubio, Washington is still willing to participate in mediation between Kyiv and Moscow, as he stated that the US was the only party both sides of the conflict were ready to approach. However, the Secretary of State emphasized that at this moment, the negotiation process is not active.
“They (the negotiations – ed.) have not been 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 to be fruitful, we are ready to play this role,” Rubio said.
Rubio noted that Washington expects changes in the dynamics of the negotiations, but currently sees no possibility for their resumption. He emphasized that the US is not interested in endless meetings without real progress.
Prospects for the Peace Process and Positions of the Parties
The diplomat stressed that, in his opinion, resolving the war is only possible through negotiations, not military victory, at least in the traditional sense of the word. Rubio added that US President Donald Trump expresses significant interest in achieving productive agreements between the parties.
Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia, which took place in January and February, were postponed due to the escalation of the situation in the Middle East. There are currently no plans to resume dialogue.
Sources among Ukrainian and Russian officials believe that the likelihood of resuming peace negotiations involving the US remains low even after the end of the war in the Middle East. The Ukrainian side is convinced that the process hit a dead end back in February and is disappointed by the lack of influence from Washington on Putin’s position.
The Russian Federation officially demands the transfer of the entire Donbas as part of a potential peace settlement. At the same time, Moscow hints that consent to such conditions was allegedly obtained from the US President during a meeting in Anchorage last year.
For its part, Ukraine, since the involvement of the US as a mediator, insists on a cessation of hostilities along the front line, but does not agree to legal recognition of Russia’s control over the entire Donbas, even if part of the territories remains under its actual control.