Any potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will depend on the progress made toward ending the war in Ukraine, said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In an interview, Rubio stated that he made it clear to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their meeting in Saudi Arabia on February 18 that there would be no meeting “until we know clearly what the meeting would be about.”
Such meetings are not held until “some result is known, or progress is made,” Rubio added.
During the talks in Riyadh, the U.S. and Russia agreed to form negotiating teams to pave the way for ending the war that Russia initiated in February 2022.
Both Trump and Putin have expressed their desire to hold a summit.
“That’s why I say the meeting will depend on whether we make any progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, and if we reach a deal, everyone should congratulate President Trump for his ability to negotiate peace,” Rubio said.
Rubio made these comments while speaking with U.S. journalist Catherine Herridge on platform X (formerly Twitter).
Trump is making efforts to end the war, though his tactics have alarmed European and Ukrainian governments, who are concerned that Russia and the U.S. might agree on a deal that overlooks their security interests, according to REL.
On February 19, Trump shocked Ukraine and European allies when he called President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and wrongly blamed Ukraine for starting the war.
The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin refers to the war as a “special military operation” to demilitarize Ukraine.
The West has responded to Russia by imposing harsh sanctions on the Russian economy.
As a result of the war, thousands have died, and millions have been displaced from their homes.
