Rubio: Russia’s Involvement is Key to Ukraine Peace

A senior US diplomat engaged with Kyiv’s negotiating team in Florida on Sunday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Sunday that Russia must be an “integral part” of any peace agreement for Ukraine, following his discussions with Kyiv’s negotiators in Florida.

The Ukrainian delegation, headed by senior security official Rustem Umerov, deliberated on US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace roadmap during talks that also involved the president’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff and unofficial adviser Jared Kushner.

Addressing reporters subsequently, Rubio acknowledged that while headway had been achieved, “further efforts are required.”

“Numerous elements are in play, and clearly, another party is engaged here who will need to be included in the resolution, a process that will persist later this week when Mr. Witkoff journeys to Moscow,” Rubio commented. He further mentioned that the US had communicated with the Russians and possesses “a substantial grasp” of Moscow’s stance.

Umerov characterized the discussions as “challenging, though fruitful,” noting the presence of “discernible advancement toward an equitable peace.”

While detractors in Ukraine and the West have criticized Trump’s proposal for being overly favorable to Russia, the president asserted that it was formulated with contributions from both factions and subsequently “refined” in supplementary meetings held earlier this month.

To date, Ukraine has spurned multiple core demands from Russia, such as the withdrawal of forces from the Donbas and the acknowledgment of its revised borders. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a ceasefire remains unfeasible as long as Ukraine occupies segments of what Russia considers its territory.