Top priority: Rubio discussed Ukraine issues with Merz and Lammy
Photo: Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held phone conversations with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Lemmy. The parties discussed efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and halt Russia's aggression, according to the US Department of State.
Conversation with Merz
According to a statement from US State Department spokesperson Tammi Bruce, the interlocutors discussed the recent meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
The statement from the State Department highlights that the leaders discussed "bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire."
The statement also mentions that Rubio congratulated Merz on his recent appointment as Chancellor of Germany.
"They discussed the viability of US-Germany bilateral relations and the importance of working together to advance many shared interests between the United States and Germany," the State Department’s statement said.
Conversation with Lammy
During another phone call, Rubio spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The Secretary reaffirmed the US position on the Russia-Ukraine war: our top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire," press secretary Tammy Bruce conveyed.
Additionally, the interlocutors touched on the India-Pakistan conflict, emphasizing the necessity for both sides to maintain the ceasefire and continue communication.
"The Secretary expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications," Bruce added.
Proposal for 30-day ceasefire and Putin's rejection
As reported earlier, on May 10, leaders from several European countries arrived in Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy. French President Macron, German Chancellor Merz, UK Prime Minister Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Tusk also called US President Donald Trump. All parties confirmed their readiness for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire on the Russian-Ukrainian war front for 30 days.
As Zelenskyy pointed out at that time, such a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia should start on May 12. Moreover, representatives of the Coalition of the Willing emphasized that if the Kremlin refuses, new sanctions could be imposed on the aggressor nation.
On the night of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference, during which he rejected the ceasefire starting May 12.
On Sunday morning, Zelenskyy stated that he was ready for negotiations with Russia but stressed that the ceasefire must come first. This stance was echoed by European leaders, US Special Representative to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who discussed with Putin the possibility of negotiations on Turkish territory.
Later that Sunday, Trump urged Ukraine to agree to negotiations in Istanbul. By the evening of May 11, Zelenskyy confirmed that he was waiting for Russia to announce a ceasefire, which would take place in Istanbul on May 15, and he personally expects Putin to attend. In his evening address, Zelenskyy reiterated his words.
The ongoing airstrike by Russian forces on the night of May 12 confirmed that the Kremlin was unwilling to agree to a ceasefire.
