Speaking on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that President Donald Trump has refrained from imposing sanctions on Russia over its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that the administration still hopes to achieve a diplomatic resolution.
“The minute you start doing that kind of stuff, you’re walking away from it,” Rubio stated regarding potential sanctions.
He characterized the upcoming week as “very critical” for the administration as it assesses its commitment to the conflict, noting, “There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic. We’re close, but we’re not close enough.”
Rubio elaborated on the importance of determining whether both parties are genuinely interested in pursuing peace and assessing their positions after 90 days of negotiation efforts. This evaluation is the focal point for the White House this week.
His remarks come at a time when Trump is intensifying efforts to encourage Russia and Ukraine to finalize a peace agreement. Trump held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, soon after suggesting the possibility of imposing stricter sanctions on Moscow.
Rubio acknowledged that Trump has made significant strides toward resolving the conflict but cautioned that the most challenging aspects of the negotiations lie ahead, stating, “Those last couple steps of this journey were always going to be the hardest ones, and it needs to happen soon.”
He stressed, “We cannot continue, as I said, to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.”
During his remarks on Saturday, Trump expressed doubts regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s will to cease hostilities in Ukraine.
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war; he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This statement followed his private meeting with Zelenskyy in Rome, which the White House characterized as “productive.”
