“There are reasons for cautious optimism about ending the war in Ukraine, but we’re aware it’s a difficult and complicated situation,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada. He emphasized that concessions from both sides would be necessary.
“I think there is reason for cautious optimism. However, we still recognize the situation remains challenging and complex,” Rubio remarked during a brief press briefing after the G7 foreign ministers’ summit concluded in Charlevoix, Canada.
The Secretary of State stressed that both parties would need to make concessions, though he refused to speculate about what these might involve. On Thursday, President Donald Trump stated that detailed discussions with Ukraine included issues such as territorial concessions that Ukraine might have to accept, and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz agreed with host Sean Hannity that a final agreement might involve transferring the Donbas region or “areas densely populated by ethnic Russians” to Russia, as well as excluding Ukraine from NATO membership.
“You’re not wrong on any of these points. Importantly, we are discussing all these issues with both sides,” Waltz responded.