U.S. Reaffirms European and Ukrainian Role in Any Future Peace Negotiations with Russia

 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday underscored that Ukraine and European nations would be integral to any substantive negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. His remarks come ahead of U.S.-Russia talks set to take place in Saudi Arabia this week, which he described as an opportunity to gauge Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to peace.

Addressing European concerns over being sidelined in the initial discussions, Rubio clarified in an interview with CBS that the negotiations had not yet begun in earnest. He assured that if talks progressed, Ukraine and European allies would be fully engaged in the process.

Earlier on Sunday, Reuters reported that U.S. officials had distributed a questionnaire to European counterparts, inquiring about potential troop contributions for enforcing a future peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

"President Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin last week, during which Putin conveyed his interest in peace," Rubio stated on CBS’s Meet the Press. "The president reiterated his desire for a resolution that is both enduring and safeguards Ukrainian sovereignty. However, words must be backed by actions. The coming days and weeks will determine the seriousness of these intentions—one phone call does not equate to peace."

U.S. Delegation Heads to Saudi Arabia Amid Diplomatic Maneuvers

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz were scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening, Witkoff confirmed in a Fox News interview. Rubio, who had prior official engagements in Saudi Arabia, noted that the composition of Russia’s delegation for the talks had yet to be finalized.

The discussions in Saudi Arabia coincide with U.S. efforts to secure agreements with Kyiv to open Ukraine’s natural resources to American investment. In an NBC interview aired Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned whether minerals located in Russian-occupied territories would be ceded to Moscow as part of any potential settlement.

Former President Donald Trump, who spoke with Putin on Wednesday and expressed confidence in the Russian leader’s willingness to negotiate, told reporters in Florida on Sunday that he does not believe Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine.

“That would have been a major issue for me. You simply can’t allow that to happen,” Trump stated in West Palm Beach. “I think he wants to end it.” He also reaffirmed that Zelenskyy would be involved in any negotiations.

European Allies Push for Inclusion in Peace Talks

Despite concerns raised by Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that European leaders might be excluded from peace negotiations, Rubio and Witkoff dismissed the notion.

"Ultimately, if real negotiations take place—and we are not there yet—Ukraine must be involved, as they are the ones who were invaded," Rubio emphasized. "European nations must also participate, given their role in imposing sanctions on Russia."

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host an emergency summit on Monday with European leaders to discuss the situation in Ukraine, following Kellogg’s remarks. European officials have expressed growing unease over the Trump administration’s recent diplomatic moves regarding Ukraine, Russia, and European defense strategy.

A key concern among European leaders is whether they can continue to rely on U.S. military support or whether Trump might pursue a peace agreement with Putin that undermines both Kyiv’s position and broader European security.

Sanctions and Diplomatic Channels Under Scrutiny

When asked whether he had discussed lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, Rubio declined to confirm, stating only that “no specific details” had been discussed.

Following the call, the Kremlin released a statement indicating that the two officials had spoken about removing "unilateral barriers" imposed by the previous U.S. administration.

Rubio did acknowledge that discussions with Lavrov included the challenging operational environment faced by U.S. diplomats in Moscow. He stressed that for any meaningful progress in Ukraine negotiations, both nations would need to ensure the proper functioning of their respective embassies.

With diplomatic tensions running high and negotiations still in their preliminary stages, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether a viable pathway to peace can be established.