U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed that resolving the territorial dispute between Russia and Ukraine is essential for any lasting peace deal. The core of the disagreement is a 30‑ to 50‑kilometer strip of land in the Donbass region that remains under Ukrainian control. Rubio made these remarks after high‑level talks between Russia and the United States at the Kremlin, which were described as “productive” but did not produce a breakthrough.
According to Rubio, the United States seeks a solution that gives Ukraine security guarantees so the country will never be invaded again. He warned, however, that indefinitely funding Ukraine’s military effort is neither realistic nor sustainable. Rubio also rejected calls for the U.S. to negotiate solely with Kyiv, emphasizing the need to engage Russia directly in order to end the conflict.
The U.S.–Russia talks, which lasted nearly five hours, centered on an American‑backed peace framework that includes a 28‑point draft. The proposal reportedly requires Ukraine to cede parts of the Donbass still under its control, abandon its NATO ambitions, and limit the size of its armed forces. Kyiv and its EU supporters have refused to consider any concessions to Russia, even as Ukrainian forces face challenges in the Donbass and elsewhere.
The recent discussions were attended by senior officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, and former President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner. While participants described the talks as “rather useful, constructive, and rather substantive,” no compromise was reached, and further work is needed to resolve the conflict. Rubio expressed hope that a solution can be found, noting that settling the territorial dispute remains a crucial step toward a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
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