U.S. gains clarity on Russia, peace talks at risk
The United States has gained a better understanding of Russia's position on Ukraine following bilateral consultations. Secretary of State Marko Rubio expressed hope for reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. However, he warned that the U.S. would withdraw from talks if an agreement is not reached.
What do you need to know?
- The U.S. understands Russia better? Rubio: After three years of silence, the U.S. held bilateral consultations with Russia, which allowed for a better understanding of its position on Ukraine.
- Hope for peace: Secretary of State Marko Rubio expressed hope for a quick end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that the conflict has no military solution.
- Rubio reiterated his threats: The U.S. would withdraw from peace negotiations if no breakthrough occurs.
How does the U.S. view Russia's position?
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marko Rubio, emphasized in an interview with "The Free Press" that after three years of silence, the U.S. has gained a better understanding of Russia's position on Ukraine.
"What I would say we’re involved in is understanding what the Russian position is. We have a better understanding of that now because we’ve actually spoken to them after three years of not speaking to them," he said, highlighting that talks resumed after a three-year hiatus in dialogue.
Rubio expressed hope for reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. The Secretary of State described the conflict as a terrible war that must come to an end, emphasizing that there is no military solution to it. He added that the U.S. has done everything possible to bring both sides of the conflict closer, but the final decision lies with Russia and Ukraine.
"What is the Ukrainian position; and figure out are these guys even in the same neighbourhood, because if they are in completely different zip codes, then we may have to conclude that they’re so far apart that peace is impossible at this time," he emphasized.
What are the next steps for the U.S.?
Rubio noted that the U.S. will continue efforts to end the conflict as long as a realistic path forward exists.
However, the U.S. Secretary of State reiterated his warnings that Washington is prepared to withdraw from further negotiations if they do not approach a resolution of the war. "If at some point we determine that we’re just too far apart and not enough movement is happening, we may need to move on to other priorities because there are a lot of important things happening in the world," he indicated and stressed that "this is not our war."
