US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that it is still not clear whether the war in Ukraine could end through negotiations, while Washington is continuing efforts to assess the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
At the conclusion of the two-day meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta on 31 October, Rubio said there is no reason to pretend the parties are close to an agreement.
I don’t know if peace through negotiations is within Ukraine. That’s what we’re trying to find out, he declared in response to a question from Radio Free Europe.
Rubio added that President Donald Trump’s envoys, including Jared Kouchner and Steve Witkoff, are intensively engaged in the cases of Ukraine and Iran. However, he explained that negotiations for the outcome of the war were not discussed during the meeting in Atlanta.
According to the three European officials who spoke of Radio Free Europe under anonymity, Rubio had also expressed privately to Western counterparts doubts about reaching a peace agreement in the coming months.
Putin’s participation in G20 summit unclear
US Secretary of State said Moscow has not yet confirmed whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit, scheduled for December in Miami.
European officials said Rubio had expressed privately doubts about accepting this invitation from Putin.
However, he defended the need for diplomatic contacts with Russia, arguing that an agreement requires communication with both sides. According to Rubios, meetings with foreign leaders do not imply approval of their actions.
He also cited Russian nuclear arsenal as the reason for maintaining communications channels between Washington and Moscow, with the goal of avoiding escalation.
For contacts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio explained that they had not held an official meeting in Atlanta, but only a brief conversation on the possibility of a meeting of their leaders during the APEC summit.
According to Western officials, Rubio had privately estimated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is unrealistic in the near future. He had also warned that the full control of Donbas would not extinguish Russia’s territorial ambitions.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to the request for comment on private statements attributed to Rubio.
Black Sea truce effort
Despite reservations for a comprehensive agreement, Rubio said the US is considering the possibility of a ceasefire on the Black Sea to protect shipping.
He announced Washington is praising Turkey’s proposals, while India has expressed interest in contributing with ideas.
According to him, such an agreement would not end the war but would help resolve some of its consequences. Rubio warned that obstacles to the transport of cereal and energy are particularly at risk to countries dependent on food imports.
The security of the Black Sea was also a topic of discussion between Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan during their October 31st meeting in Istanbul.
Conflict Between European Delegations and Russia
The meeting in Atlanta was accompanied by tensions between European representatives and Lavrov. The refusal of several delegations to participate in the traditional joint photo led to its cancellation.
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaya Kallas accused Lavrov of presenting false nationalists to the war and said the ongoing Russian attacks do not prove readiness for peace.
Lavrov, on the other hand, criticised the Europeans’ stance and welcomed the administration’s readiness for dialogue with Moscow.
Rubio reiterated that Washington will continue to consider the possibilities for diplomatic resolution of the war, which he described as devastating to both countries.
Source Layer: Dukeagini
