The United States has expressed uncertainty regarding Russia’s genuine willingness to cease its military actions in Ukraine. Officials in Washington are committed to assessing the Kremlin’s intentions as diplomatic discussions continue.
Senator Marco Rubio stated, “We do not know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. They claim they are, but we need to understand the conditions under which they would agree, and whether those conditions would be acceptable to Ukraine and also agreeable to Russia. We will continue to verify this.”
Rubio emphasized that both the U.S. and European nations are actively working to encourage Russia to engage in negotiations.
He added, “I don’t think anyone in this room would oppose a peaceful resolution to this war if the terms are fair and sustainable. That is what we aim to achieve, and we will continue our efforts to reach this goal, even as other developments on the sanctions front and in other areas persist.”
In related developments, two rounds of negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia have taken place in Abu Dhabi. Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian delegation, reported that the latest meeting focused on implementing a ceasefire and monitoring the cessation of hostilities.
According to Reuters, discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. regarding a potential peace agreement with Russia are underway, with a possible timeline set for March.
The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, announced that the next round of trilateral talks will be held in Geneva on February 17-18, led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the Russian president.
Additionally, Russian media reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, known for his hardline stance and aggressive foreign policy, will also attend the negotiations.
Umerov confirmed the date for the upcoming meeting, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the delegation’s composition, which will consist of the same representatives as in previous rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi.
In a separate statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that Russia is eager to finalize an agreement, suggesting that Zelensky must take decisive action to avoid missing a significant opportunity.
The U.S. remains skeptical about Russia’s commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts continue. Recent negotiations in Abu Dhabi have focused on ceasefire implementation, with further talks scheduled in Geneva.