Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday that the United States is poised to make a pivotal decision this week regarding its role in mediating peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The potential shift comes as the Trump administration evaluates whether to persist in its diplomatic efforts or withdraw from the talks altogether.
As reported by Mediaite, Rubio's comments followed a significant meeting in Rome between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders convened ahead of the funeral for Pope Francis, during which President Trump expressed optimism about the proximity of a peace agreement, stating that Russia and Ukraine were "very close to a deal" to conclude the ongoing three-year conflict.
However, President Trump also appeared to diverge from Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning recent missile attacks on civilians, suggesting on Truth Social that Putin might be reluctant to end the hostilities. He hinted at the possibility of imposing financial sanctions on Moscow as a means of exerting pressure.
In a Sunday interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Rubio emphasized the significance of the upcoming days in determining the future of U.S. involvement. "I think this is going to be a very critical week," Rubio remarked. "This week is going to be a really important week in which we have to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in."
He underscored the substantial resources the Trump administration has invested in facilitating a peace agreement, while also stressing the necessity for tangible progress. "We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if its not going to come to fruition," he asserted.
When questioned about the proximity of a peace deal following the Rome meeting, Rubio acknowledged that the parties were closer than they had been in the past three years, yet still not sufficiently near to a resolution. "Peace deals have to be built on verification, have to be built on facts, have to be built on action," he stated.
The Trump administration has prioritized ending the conflict in Ukraine as a cornerstone of its foreign policy agenda during President Trump's second term. On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to bring an end to the war on his first day back in office, underscoring the administration's commitment to achieving peace in the region.
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