U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, made a visit to Paris to discuss possible strategies to end the war in Ukraine. During their stay in the French capital, they held meetings with European allies and Ukrainian officials to address this issue. Marco Rubio expressed the need to quickly determine if it is feasible to end the conflict in Ukraine within a matter of days. In statements to the press, Rubio highlighted the importance of advancing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mentioning that if these do not progress, the United States should reconsider its involvement in the peace process. Rubio mentioned the possibility that President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may meet next week to sign an agreement related to critical minerals. However, he stressed that if significant progress is not made in the talks to end the war in Ukraine, the United States should consider other options. Although negotiations show no significant progress, French authorities believe there is alignment between the United States, Europe, and Ukraine regarding the need to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine and to exert pressure on Russia. French Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad emphasized the importance of continuing to support Ukraine in its fight for peace. Rubio reiterated that the United States has been assisting Ukraine for several years, but noted that the responsibility to end the war does not solely rest on his country. In this regard, he mentioned that it is necessary to assess whether a solution to the conflict in Ukraine can be reached and to determine the next steps if significant progress is not achieved in the negotiations.
