Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images) Author: Eduard Tkach
The issue of ending the war in Ukraine consists of plan A and plan B. Until the first issue is resolved, the transition to the second is impossible.
This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, RBC-Ukraine reports with reference to CBS News.
“Plan A is to cease fire so we can move on to Plan B, Phase II, which is to bring everyone to the table, perhaps with mediation, to find a way to end this war on a lasting basis that respects the interests of all parties. No one is saying that Phase II will be easy, but we can't even begin to do it until we get through Phase II,” Rubio said.
He noted that no one said the second part would be easy. However, it cannot be started until the first is done. The Secretary of State emphasized that it is difficult to negotiate a lasting end to the war while the parties are shooting at each other. That is why US President Donald Trump is seeking a ceasefire.
“That's what we're working on, if we can get there. That in itself won't be easy. Then we'll move on to phase two, which is negotiating something more sustainable and permanent. That will be difficult. It will take a lot of work, concessions on both sides, but it has to happen. This war cannot continue. The president has made that clear and is doing everything he can to end it,” he said.
The host also recalled Rubio's statement, who said that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was supposed to answer the question of whether the parties were moving toward a truce or whether Russia was using delaying tactics. The journalist also recalled yesterday's conversation between the Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Asking whether Russia was stalling for time and what the official thought of Witkoff's meeting, he answered the following:
“I think it was a very promising meeting. As I have said many times, we are not going to negotiate publicly. Hopefully, we will have something to announce at some point in the near future. I cannot guarantee that, but I certainly think it was an encouraging meeting, a constructive exchange of views,” the Secretary of State said.
He said he had no negative impression of Whitkoff's meeting with Putin, but acknowledged the difficulties because the war in Ukraine has many aspects.
“Of course, there are some difficulties. This is a complex war that has been going on for three years, which is going on along a very long front line, with many complex aspects. So no one is saying that it is easy,” Rubio added.
Recall that The Independent has learned what “red lines” Ukraine has for any peace agreement with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. In particular, the key issue is territories. Read more about this in the RBC-Ukraine article.
Read urgent and important news about Russia's war against Ukraine on the RBC-Ukraine channel in Telegram.