Rubio says ending Russia’s war will take concessions from all sides

February 18, 2025 journo

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says ending Russia’s war in Ukraine will require concessions from all sides.

When asked about sanctions against Russia, Rubio noted the measures were imposed as a result of Russia’s invasion and that it’s not just the US that has imposed them.

“The European Union is going to have to be at the table at some point because they have sanctions as well that have been imposed,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP) (AP)

Rubio sat down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh.

The meeting marks another pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse US policy on isolating Russia and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump earlier this month upended US policy toward Ukraine and Russia by saying he and Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war.

Ukrainian officials aren’t taking part in the meeting, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that his country won’t accept the outcome if Kyiv doesn’t take part.

Rubio was accompanied by national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Lavrov sat next to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.

More to come.