Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism on Wednesday regarding a potential cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting it could occur within "days" if Russian leaders consent. He plans to engage diplomats from the Group of 7 (G7) nations in Canada later this week to focus on efforts to end the ongoing conflict.
During a refueling stop in Ireland en route from Saudi Arabia to Canada, Rubio articulated his vision for the situation, stating, "Neither side is shooting at each other — not rockets, not missiles, not bullets, nothing, not artillery." He emphasized the need for dialogue to commence following the cessation of hostilities.
Rubio dismissed concerns about potential tensions with American allies stemming from President Trump’s recent tariffs and expressed confidence in productive discussions with Canadian officials, despite Trump's controversial remarks suggesting Canada could become the 51st state. He specified that the G7 meeting would not focus on these tariffs, stating, "They’re the host nation, and I mean, we have a lot of other things we work on together."
On Tuesday, Rubio and Michael Waltz, the White House national security adviser, convened with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to strategize on initiating negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict, which intensified following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian officials reported an agreement to consider a 30-day interim cease-fire following the discussions.
Rubio indicated that U.S. officials intended to engage with Russian representatives to discuss the cease-fire proposal, highlighting the importance of the Russian response, which he deemed critical in elucidating Russia's intentions.
He recounted previous discussions with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, mentioning their apparent openness to settlement under unspecified conditions. At the G7 meeting, Rubio's primary objective is to unify member nations—Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—in support of peace negotiations.
He remarked that an ideal outcome of the G7 meeting would be a statement encouraging Russia to cease hostilities, paving the way for a process aimed at achieving permanent peace. Ukrainian representatives have underscored the necessity of addressing specific issues in any talks, including prisoner exchanges and the humanitarian situation.
Regarding Ukraine's requests for security guarantees to deter future aggression, Rubio acknowledged the importance of deterrence in any lasting peace agreement. He also conveyed that while commercial agreements could bolster Ukraine economically, they might not directly serve as a deterrent against Russian hostility.
Rubio mentioned that European contributions to Ukraine’s security would also be integral to the peace discussions, although he noted uncertainty about the timing of European nations’ deeper involvement in negotiations. He anticipated that European sanctions against Russia would be a topic during any potential negotiations.
The gathering of foreign ministers in Quebec City is expected to address the Ukraine conflict amidst ongoing challenges rooted in Trump’s foreign policies, including his unpredictable tariff actions and his relations with Russia. Rubio commented that Trump's tariffs aim to foster domestic manufacturing capabilities, particularly in defense.
Canadian leadership, facing reciprocal tariff actions in response to Trump’s policies, continues to engage with the United States on these issues. Rubio reiterated Trump’s rationale behind the annexation proposal, linking it to both economic and security concerns, although he acknowledged widespread Canadian disagreement with such views.