Rubio signals major US-Russia peace push while Ukraine and Europe remain sidelined—what’s next for the war?
The Saudi-brokered US-Russia talks are signaling a seismic shift in global power dynamics, with Trump’s administration pushing for an immediate end to the Ukraine war—on Moscow’s terms. But with Kyiv and Europe excluded from the initial negotiations, the legitimacy of any deal is already in question.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s message was clear: both sides must make concessions. But what exactly does Washington expect Ukraine to concede? Crimea? Donetsk and Luhansk? NATO membership? These are the very red lines that Zelenskyy has vowed never to cross.
Meanwhile, Trump’s blunt remarks blaming Ukraine for “starting” the war have shaken Kyiv’s trust in Washington. His insistence on a deal, regardless of the cost, aligns with Moscow’s long-standing goal: a frozen conflict that cements Russian territorial gains.
For Putin, the timing couldn’t be better. Russia controls 20% of Ukraine’s territory and, after three years of brutal warfare, Kyiv’s Western support is fading. While Macron and European leaders scramble to react, Trump’s White House is already drafting a post-war framework that could leave Ukraine vulnerable to another invasion.
The elephant in the room? A “peace deal” that hands Russia control over occupied territories would mean the war was never really about Ukraine—but about reshaping US-Russia relations. Rubio even hinted at future economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow, making it clear that geopolitical realism is replacing moral diplomacy.
Will Ukraine accept this deal? Or will it reject the terms and risk losing US support? The next few weeks will determine whether this is the beginning of peace—or a forced settlement that leaves Kyiv alone to fight another war.
