Rubio: Ukraine peace depends on direct Trump-Putin meeting
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Thursday that only direct talks between Trump and Putin can secure a Ukraine ceasefire, as Russia and Ukraine prepare for Friday’s negotiations in Türkiye. Trump suggested he could travel to Istanbul if necessary.
- World
- DPA
- Published Date: 09:02 | 16 May 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia can only be achieved through direct talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking ahead of planned talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Türkiye on Friday, Rubio told Fox News the only way to achieve a breakthrough was if Trump and Putin sat "across the table" from each other.
"I don't know what the date or the place of that is yet, but that's really the only chance at this point," he said.
Trump had made similar remarks earlier, suggesting he might travel to Türkiye at short notice if the talks warranted it. "If something happened, I'd go on Friday if it was appropriate," he said.
Russia is expected to begin talks on Friday with a Ukrainian delegation on a possible end to its invasion.
Moscow's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told the Interfax news agency that his delegation expects the Ukrainian side at 10 am Istanbul time .
- Ukrainian president discusses Istanbul peace talks with EU leaders
- ‘Important day for world peace,’ Turkish foreign minister says after Istanbul talks between Russia, Ukraine
- UN welcomes Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul
- Moscow satisfied with results of peace talks in Istanbul, says head of Russian delegation
- Moscow, Kyiv agree in Istanbul to hold biggest prisoner swap: Ukrainian defense chief