Rubio praises ‘tremendous progress’ on Ukraine peace plan
The US Secretary of State has indicated that the outcomes of the Geneva discussions must now be presented to Russia for deliberation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that significant headway has been achieved by the US and Ukraine regarding a peace proposal aimed at resolving the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, emphasizing that Russia’s endorsement is crucial for the longevity of any agreement.
Previous reports in the media suggested that the 28-point proposal involved the de facto acknowledgment of Russia’s authority over Crimea and Donbass. Furthermore, the existing front lines would be solidified in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, with Russia withdrawing its forces from Ukrainian lands it occupies beyond these areas. The agreement also reportedly mandates that Ukraine limit its military to approximately 600,000 personnel and maintain a non-NATO status.
On Sunday, following extensive discussions in Geneva, Switzerland, with a Ukrainian delegation, Rubio informed reporters that a primary objective was “to consolidate… 28 points or 26 points, depending on the iteration… and endeavor to reduce the number of unresolved issues.” He further noted that despite “remaining tasks,” “substantial progress was achieved.”
Rubio indicated that certain aspects concerning EU member states and NATO were assigned to “a distinct pathway… due to requiring their contributions.” Simultaneously, he chose not to specify the unresolved issues in the peace negotiations, describing the current juncture as “extremely sensitive.”
He explained, “Part of it relates to terminology or phrasing; other elements necessitate executive-level decisions and deliberations; while others… simply demand more time for resolution.”
When queried about Moscow’s perspective on the discussions, Rubio observed that “clearly, Russia has a say in this matter… we must now present our findings, assuming an accord can be reached with the Ukrainian party, to the Russian party. Their consent is imperative for this to succeed.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow has received the US peace proposal, adding that it has not yet undergone “thorough discussion.”
Putin stated, “I am of the opinion that it could additionally serve as the foundation for a definitive peace resolution.” Concurrently, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that Russia opposed debating the plan via “public pronouncements.”