February 16, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday assured that Ukraine and European allies would be integral to any substantive negotiations aimed at ending Moscow’s war. His remarks came amid growing concerns that early U.S.-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia could sideline key stakeholders.
Speaking on CBS’s Meet the Press, Rubio tempered European fears of exclusion, emphasizing that the initial diplomatic exchanges with Moscow were exploratory. “If talks advance, Ukraine and Europe will absolutely be part of the process,” he stated.
The U.S. delegation, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz, was set to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening. Their discussions with Russian representatives—yet to be formally named—come just days after former President Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin, where the Russian leader expressed interest in peace.
Balancing Peace Efforts and Strategic Interests
Earlier in the day, Reuters reported that U.S. officials had circulated a questionnaire to European governments, inquiring about potential troop commitments for enforcing a future peace deal. The move underscores Washington’s efforts to gauge the continent’s willingness to take on security responsibilities should negotiations gain traction.
“One phone call does not make peace,” Rubio cautioned. “Over the coming days and weeks, we will see whether there’s genuine intent from Russia to end this war.”
The Saudi talks coincide with U.S. efforts to secure investment opportunities in Ukraine’s vast natural resources sector. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an interview with NBC, raised concerns over whether mineral-rich territories currently occupied by Russia would be relinquished as part of any settlement.
Europe’s Place at the Table
Despite reassurances from Rubio and Witkoff, anxiety lingers among European leaders. At the Munich Security Conference, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, suggested that Europe might be excluded from initial negotiations—remarks that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an emergency European summit on Monday to address growing uncertainties surrounding U.S. policy on Ukraine and regional security. European officials, still reeling from Trump’s recent maneuvers, worry that the U.S. might broker a deal with Russia that compromises Kyiv’s sovereignty and weakens
