US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that while discussions between Russia and Ukraine have made progress, a lasting peace deal will not be immediate. Speaking in Jamaica, Rubio said, “It won’t be simple. It’ll take some time, but at least we’re on that road and talking about these things.”
Black Sea Strikes Halted in Parallel Talks
In parallel talks held with US envoys in Saudi Arabia, Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt strikes in the Black Sea. This development comes as President Donald Trump pushes to end the ongoing war. However, Russia has placed several conditions for reviving a deal on Black Sea shipping, including sanctions relief from the United States.
Sanctions Relief Under Discussion
Rubio highlighted that Russia’s conditions involve sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union. “We’re going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours. They belong to the European Union,” he added.
Ceasefire and Next Steps
Rubio stressed that the US negotiators would review the conditions and present the findings to President Trump, who will make the final decision on the next steps. “I think it’s a good thing that we have both the Ukrainians and the Russians talking about ceasefires, be they energy or be they potentially in the Black Sea,” Rubio remarked.
Call for Ceasefire Without Preconditions
Rubio had earlier urged Russia to accept a proposed 30-day ceasefire without any preconditions. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that it was “much too early” to discuss lifting sanctions
