Rubio: Ukraine should agree to concessions on territories occupied by Russia
10 March 22:46
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Ukraine will have to make concessions on the territory occupied by Russia since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to The New York Times.
The secretary of state believes that the Russians will also “have to do hard things” to end the war or at least “suspend it in some form.”
“The most important thing we have to walk away from here is a strong sense that Ukraine is willing to do hard things, like the Russians are going to have to do hard things to end this conflict or at least suspend it in some form,” Rubio said.
He declined to offer a blueprint for a potential deal, but made clear that concessions from both sides would be central to diplomacy.
“I think both sides have to come to the realization that there is no military solution to this situation. The Russians cannot conquer the whole of Ukraine, and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine to somehow force the Russians back to where they were in 2014 in any period of time,” the US Secretary of State said.
Rubio added that in future negotiations with Moscow, it will be extremely important to determine what Russia is ready to give up. According to the head of the State Department, the United States is trying to demonstrate that it still has ways to put pressure on Russia, trying to get it to the negotiating table with Ukraine.
He added that the resumption of military aid to Ukraine will be discussed in Saudi Arabia. The US position on this issue may change “if Ukraine is seriously committed to peace.”
“I can assure you that we will not provide military assistance to the Russians,” Rubio concluded.
What the world is saying and writing about the US-Ukraine talks
The Ukrainian-American talks taking place in Saudi Arabia have attracted considerable attention from experts and analysts, reflecting the complex interplay of diplomacy, security, and economic interests.
U.S. Ambassador to the Middle East Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the talks, emphasizing expectations of significant progress, especially on the critical minerals agreement. He emphasized that the agenda includes security protocols and territorial issues, and expressed hope that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could visit the US to finalize the mining agreement.
The Associated Press reported that during the talks, Ukraine proposed a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as a prisoner exchange. The proposal is aimed at resuming US military and intelligence support, which was suspended after Washington called on Kyiv to engage in peace talks. In addition, the media reported that the Ukrainian and American sides are ready to sign an agreement on mineral resources.
The Guardian analyzed the role of Saudi Arabia as a host country, noting its complicated relations with both the United States and Russia. European allies expressed concern about direct US negotiations with Russia, fearing potential concessions that could undermine Ukraine’s position.
The Wall Street Journal emphasized US President Donald Trump’ s assertive approach to diplomacy, which includes the use of military assistance to force parties to the negotiating table. However, this strategy is facing problems, as evidenced by the increase in Russian attacks after the suspension of US aid to Ukraine. Critics argue that such tactics may lack strategic foresight and may make it harder to achieve long-term peace.
Vox also reported on European efforts to strengthen support for Ukraine amid changes in US policy. European countries have gathered to discuss increased spending on defense and support for Ukraine, but challenges such as production timelines and limited resources remain. The EU’s skepticism of the current US position underscores concerns about Ukraine’s defense capabilities and the broader geopolitical balance.
