Rubio to miss key NATO talks just as Ukraine faces critical pressure - Reuters

Instead of Rubio, the US will be represented at the meeting by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The reasons for Rubio’s possible absence are still unknown, and plans may change.

The event is taking place against the backdrop of tense negotiations over President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine. Some European diplomats have expressed concerns that their positions might not be taken into account in this process.

The NATO ministers’ meeting is usually held twice a year, and it is rare for a US Secretary of State to miss it.

“Secretary Rubio has already attended dozens of meetings with NATO allies, and it would be completely impractical to expect him to be present at every meeting,” a State Department spokesperson said.

At the same time, Ukrainian and European representatives fear that Rubio’s absence could weaken the US influence at a critical moment when peace talks with Russia are being discussed.

Such an absence of a US Secretary of State from NATO meetings is rare. The last similar case occurred in 2017 with Rex Tillerson. Now, amid tense negotiations regarding Ukraine, allies are watching Washington’s level of engagement especially closely.

US officials are pressuring the Ukrainian side to sign a peace deal, but it has not been signed.

The US primarily wants to secure a peace agreement before agreeing to any security guarantees for Ukraine.

Marco Rubio also stated that following negotiations with Ukraine in Geneva, changes are being made to the American peace plan.