Rubio may join US-Russia talks on ending war in Ukraine – Reuters
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
American negotiators plan to meet with Russian representatives in Florida on Saturday for a final round of talks aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The meeting is expected to take place after Friday's consultations between the United States, Ukrainian, and European officials, during which an updated peace plan was discussed. According to the agency, those talks generated cautious hope for possible progress toward ending the war.
The Russian delegation will be led by Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. On the US side, the talks will include diplomat Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio said he may also join the meeting.
Previous rounds of talks were held at Witkoff’s golf club in Miami and in the Hallandale Beach area.
Earlier this week, US, Ukrainian, and European officials said there had been some progress on security guarantees for Kyiv. At the same time, it remains unclear whether Moscow will agree to the proposed terms.
A Russian source told Reuters that any direct contact between the Russian delegation and Ukrainian negotiators during this meeting is excluded.
Ukraine’s condition for security guarantees
It is worth recalling that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said he wants US security guarantees to be approved by Congress. According to him, the Budapest Memorandum scenario must not be repeated.
Moreover, following talks between Ukrainian and US officials, rumors emerged that the United States could offer Ukraine security guarantees comparable to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
According to Politico, such a US proposal would remain on the table for only “a matter of days.” If Ukraine does not agree soon, the next offers may be less favorable.
