For Ukraine to secure an end to the war, it must be prepared to relinquish some of the land Russia has seized since 2014, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Monday. Speaking ahead of high-stakes peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Rubio stressed that concessions are the only viable path to halting the devastating conflict that has claimed nearly a million lives since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The Hard Truth About Concessions
Acknowledging the immense suffering Ukraine has endured, Rubio admitted that discussing territorial compromises is far from easy. “They’ve been through hell, and it’s painful to even suggest giving up land,” he told reporters. “But if we’re serious about stopping the bloodshed, that’s the only way forward.”
The upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia mark the first direct engagement between top U.S. officials and Ukrainian leadership since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s highly publicized clash with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House.
What’s Ukraine Willing to Do for Peace?
While making it clear that he won’t be pre-negotiating on Ukraine’s behalf, Rubio said Washington’s goal is to gauge Kyiv’s stance on potential peace terms. “We need to know what they’re actually willing to put on the table,” he said. “It might not align with what Russia wants, but that’s exactly what we need to figure out.”
Kyiv, however, has long maintained that surrendering territory—especially Crimea, which Putin annexed in 2014—is off the table. Instead, Ukrainian officials have pushed for a “just peace” that includes war reparations from Russia.
Zelenskyy, currently in Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not be sitting down with Rubio or other U.S. officials. Instead, Ukraine will be represented by his top aide, Andriy Yermak, alongside Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
U.S. Military Aid Back on the Table?
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have simmered since Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office confrontation with Trump and Vance. Following that exchange, Trump abruptly froze all U.S. military aid, pressuring Ukraine to consider negotiations.
Now, Rubio hinted that aid could resume, depending on the outcome of the talks. “We might have some good news to share on that front,” he suggested. “The pause happened because Ukraine didn’t seem serious about peace talks. If that changes, so does our approach.”
Rubio Clashes with Poland Over Starlink
Rubio also addressed his recent dust-up with Poland’s foreign minister over Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system. Warsaw had warned it would seek alternative providers if Musk cut off Ukraine’s access to the vital service. Rubio, who previously fired back by saying Poland should be more appreciative of U.S. support, softened his stance, calling Poland a “great NATO ally.”
“They set an example for the rest of Europe,” he said. “I was just responding to a misleading post—that’s all.”
As the Saudi Arabia talks get underway, all eyes are on whether Ukraine is willing to make the painful compromises Rubio suggests—or if the war’s brutal stalemate will drag on.
