Next week will be decisive in the negotiations on Ukraine — Rubio

Next week will be crucial in the negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. This was stated in an interview with NBC by the head of the US State Department, Marco Rubio.

According to Rubio, the United States is not expanding sanctions against Russia in order not to interfere with the peace process.

"Because I think we still hope that the diplomatic efforts will be crowned with success and that we will be able to bring these two sides closer. As soon as you start doing these steps, you actually move away from the process. You thereby condemn yourself to two more years of war, and we do not want to allow this," said Rubio, quoted by the publication "Country".

Today, the United States is the only country that talks to and with Kiev, and with Moscow, the Secretary of State noted. Therefore, Washington wants to make sure that it uses this opportunity to the end, "that we are not abandoning something that can really work or lead to peace," he said. However, Donald Trump's team does not want to waste time either. Now for the US, "it is important to find out whether both sides really want peace and how close they are to each other or far from each other after 90 days of efforts."

"That's what we're trying to figure out this week. There are reasons for optimism, but there are also reasons for concern. It is difficult... and we are doing everything possible to try to achieve this in the next few days," the head of the State Department summed up.