US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Ukraine must make territorial concessions to Russia as part of any agreement to end the ongoing war, according to Politico.
Speaking ahead of peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Rubio stressed on Monday that such compromises were “the only way” to halt the conflict, which had claimed countless lives since the outbreak in February 2022.
Rubio argued that Ukraine must cede some of the territory seized by Russia since 2014, including Crimea, to achieve peace.
They’ve [Ukrainians] suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly, and it’s hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions. But that’s the only way this is going to end to prevent more suffering.
The high-stakes talks mark the first major diplomatic engagement between US officials and Ukrainian leadership since President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public clash with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House.
Rubio stressed that the US was not pre-negotiating any terms but aimed to understand what Ukraine was willing to concede. He acknowledged that Ukraine’s demands may be incompatible with Russia’s stance, but the talks will seek to bridge the gap.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has consistently rejected any peace deal that involves ceding territory to Russia. President Zelensky is in Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but will not participate directly in the talks with Rubio. Instead, Ukraine will be represented by key aides, including Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Relations between the US and Ukraine have been strained since Trump halted military aid to Ukraine in an effort to pressure Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow. Rubio hinted that US aid could resume depending on the outcome of the talks.
All of that came about because we felt that they [Ukraine] were not committed to any sort of peace process or not interested in negotiations. If that changes, then obviously our posture can change.
Rubio also addressed his recent public disagreement with Poland’s foreign minister over Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system, which has been vital for Ukraine’s communications. While Rubio initially criticised Poland’s stance, he later praised the country as “a great NATO ally” and “a great example for the rest of Europe.”
