logo
Rubio says Witkoff returning with Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal

Rubio says Witkoff returning with Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal

The Hill3 days ago
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will return from Moscow with a framework for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
'The specific timing of it is not discussed,' Rubio told Larry Kudlow during an appearance on Fox Business Channel.
'I think what we have is a better understanding of the conditions under which Russia would be prepared to end the war. We now have to compare that to what the Ukrainians and our European allies, but the Ukrainians primarily, of course, are willing to accept,' he added.
Witkoff has been gleaning information from talks in Russia as the Kremlin advances strikes on Kyiv and surrounding cities in its war with Ukraine.
In the past, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pushed to obtain Crimea and additional land before removing soldiers from the frontlines.
Rubio did not outline the conditions gathered by Witkoff during his Wednesday meeting with leaders in Moscow but underscored the importance of an agreement fair to both countries.
'I think for the first time, perhaps since this administration began, we have some concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end the war. We haven't had much of that to this point,' Rubio said.
'Obviously, the Ukrainians have a say in this. We got to – we got to bring the two sides and the two positions close enough so that the ultimate closer, President Trump, can get involved and make it happen,' he added.
Trump signaled that he could soon hold direct in-person talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve the administration's goal of ending the conflict.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump Envoy Slammed for 'Damaging Incompetence' Over Putin Talks
Trump Envoy Slammed for 'Damaging Incompetence' Over Putin Talks

Newsweek

time26 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Trump Envoy Slammed for 'Damaging Incompetence' Over Putin Talks

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has been slammed for "damaging incompetence" over his talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Michael McFaul, who served in the Barack Obama administration, including as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation, reacted to reports that Witkoff presented conflicting narratives about Putin's intentions in several calls with European leaders last week, creating confusion. Newsweek was unable to verify these reports and contacted Witkoff and the White House outside of normal business hours for comment. Why It Matters One of Trump's pledges during the 2024 presidential campaign was to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, but he has thus far failed to do so. In a renewed attempt to broker a peace deal between the warring countries, Witkoff met Putin on Wednesday for three hours of talks in what was his fifth trip to Moscow in his capacity as Trump's envoy. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, right, shake hands during their meeting in Moscow on August 6, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, right, shake hands during their meeting in Moscow on August 6, 2025. Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP What To Know According to The Wall Street Journal, Witkoff presented Putin's ceasefire plan to European officials after he met with the Russian leader. Citing anonymous sources, the publication said Moscow was prepared to withdraw from the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for full control of Donetsk Oblast. The publication said that the next day, he presented a different claim—that Putin would withdraw and freeze the front line, and that during a third call, he said the Russian leader wanted Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk in an exchange for a ceasefire. McFaul, now a Stanford University academic said: "This is deeply damaging incompetence. Witkoff should finally start taking a note taker from the U.S. embassy for future meetings. That's how professional diplomacy works." Meanwhile, other figures also criticized Witkoff. Journalist Michael Weiss wrote: "The U.S. envoy is grossly incompetent and his confusion is causing diplomatic crises." Garry Kasparov, a Russian chess grandmaster and political activist wrote: "Like so most of Trump's appointees, Witkoff's only qualification is that Trump is sure he will put Trump's personal interests and desires over American national interests without a second thought. Of course he's incompetent." What People Are Saying Writing on Truth Social about the meeting, President Donald Trump said: "My special envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Great progress was made! Afterwards, I updated some of our European allies. Everyone agrees this war must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come." What Happens Next Trump is scheduled to meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 as part of his efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

European leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

time26 minutes ago

European leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

KYIV, Ukraine -- European nations rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation can't be resolved without Kyiv, ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Trump had said Friday's meeting in Alaska with his Russian counterpart was to discuss ending the more than three-year war. Zelenskyy responded by thanking European allies and wrote on X on Sunday: 'The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people." Saturday's statement by top European leaders came after the White House confirmed the U.S president was willing to grant Putin the one-on-one meeting Russia has long pushed for, and suggestions from Trump that a peace deal could include 'some swapping of territories," raising fears Kyiv may be pressured into giving up land or accepting other curbs on its sovereignty. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they aren't allowed to speak publicly, told The Associated Press that Trump remained open to a trilateral summit with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but for now, he will have a bilateral meeting requested by Putin. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Saturday with top European and Ukrainian officials at the British Foreign Secretary's weekend residence to discuss how to end the war. Trump had earlier said he would meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy. The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there's no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace. Saturday's statement, signed by the president of the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK, stressed the need for a 'just and lasting peace' for Kyiv, including 'robust and credible' security guarantees. 'Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,' the statement said. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,' the Europeans added. A monthlong U.S.-led push to achieve a truce in Ukraine has so far proved fruitless, with Kyiv agreeing in principle while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking. Trump had also moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. The deadline was Friday. The White House did not answer questions Saturday about possible sanctions. The Kremlin earlier this week reiterated demands that Ukraine give up territory, abandon its bid to join NATO, and accept limits on its military, in exchange for a withdrawal of Russian troops from the rest of the country. Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine 'will not give Russia any awards for what it has done' and that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.' Ukrainian officials previously told the AP privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily. But Zelenskyy on Saturday insisted that formally ceding land was out of the question.

BofA on why European defense spending is unlikely to be so quick and easy
BofA on why European defense spending is unlikely to be so quick and easy

Yahoo

time28 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

BofA on why European defense spending is unlikely to be so quick and easy

European defense spending looks set to move out of a years-long slumber as rising geopolitical pressures force the bloc to rethink its defense budget. But Bank of America Securities economists warn that boosting budgets to meet new NATO targets will not be 'quick and easy' for most EU countries. 'A ramp-up in defence spending is unlikely to be so quick and easy,' BofA economists said in a recent note, highlighting simulations showing that raising core defense spending to NATO-agreed targets of 3.5% of GDP would likely clash with the economic reality of stretched public finances, especially in major southern European nations. BofA's simulations show that 'pushing core defense budgets to 3.5% by 2028 could increase government debt ratios between 2.4% and 4.1% above baseline levels' across these countries and others including Portugal and Greece. Meeting the 5% threshold presents even greater challenges, with 'concerning debt sustainability implications, especially for Spain/Italy.' France and Italy are still 'under the EU's Excessive Deficit Procedure,' while Spain's fiscal balances are 'vulnerable given limited progress on fiscal consolidation.' Activation of defence funding instruments such as the National Escape Clause (NEC) and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), two measures launched under the European Commission's ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, has yet to translate into large-scale budget increases among key players. France, Italy, and Spain have not fully activated NEC, while Greece and Portugal have modestly utilized these measures. The complexity of this political and economic balancing act implies that a significant ramp-up in defense spending is unlikely to be quick or easy.'Ultimately, some heavy lifting at the EU level will be needed to help ease the burden. Related articles BofA on why European defense spending is unlikely to be so quick and easy Victoria's Secret Exposed: The Warning Sign Behind the Stock's 52% Collapse Surge of 50% since our AI selection, this chip giant still has great potential

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store