US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Moscow must be included in Ukraine talks if a peace deal capable of ending the prevailing hostilities on both sides is to be secured.
The high-level Ukrainian peace delegation led by security official Rustom Umerov met and discussed the US peace plan with President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his informal adviser Jared Kushner. After the meeting, Rubio said that while progress had been made, “there’s more work to be done before we can call it a day in the Ukraine war.”
“There are a lot of moving pieces in the puzzle, and obviously, there is one more party involved in the conflict that will need to be part of any settlement,” he said. Talks will continue when Witkoff travels to Moscow later this week,” he added. Rubio said that the US had been in touch with all stakeholders in the Ukraine war. He added that he maintained “a pretty good understanding” of Russia’s position.
Meanwhile, Umerov described the talks with the US negotiators as “difficult but productive”, adding that there was “notable progress made between the two sides”. Many observers and critics argue that Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine substantially favoured Russia’s position. Yet Trump has said it was conceived after consultations and input from leaders in Moscow and Washington.
Although Ukraine has so far rejected any peace proposal that includes key Russian demands, such as ceding land in Donbas and Crimea, recognising Russian as an official language, and the demilitarisation of the country, as well as giving up aspirations of joining NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that a ceasefire was impossible as long as Ukraine continues to occupy parts of Russian territory.
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