Rubio: The United States has become more aware of Russia's position on Ukraine

Following the visit to Moscow of the special envoy of the President of the United States, Steve Witkoff, the United States began to better understand the conditions under which Russia is ready for the end of hostilities. This was stated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Fox News.

According to the head of the State Department, perhaps for the first time since the beginning of the work of the current US administration, Washington has concrete examples of what Russia "could ask to put an end to the war." Rubio explained that the task now is to narrow the gap between the positions of Moscow and Kiev.

"We have to compare this with what the Ukrainians and our European allies are ready to agree to," the Secretary of State noted.

The United States should bring the parties as close as possible and this will help US President Donald Trump succeed, the Secretary of State concluded.

According to Rubio, "territorial issues" will play a key role in resolving the conflict. The Secretary of State added that "at some point" in the settlement process, a ceasefire should be reached.

Witkoff in March called the status of Russian-controlled regions a key problem in resolving the conflict. We are talking about the Crimea, which became part of Russia following a referendum in 2014, and the republics of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, which joined as a result of voting in the fall of 2022. Kiev does not recognize the results of the referendums and considers these territories its own. Moscow called the recognition of their belonging to Russia one of the conditions for the settlement.

Trump announced "great progress" at Vladimir Putin's meeting with By Steven Witkoff. The Kremlin assessed their conversation as "very useful and constructive." According to Fox News, at the meeting Putin expressed a desire to meet with Trump, who is "open to such a conversation as early as next week if the result of this meeting is the end of the war in Ukraine."

According to The New York Times, Trump, after Witkoff's visit, informed European leaders of plans to meet with Putin next week and then hold a trilateral meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. The White House confirmed the readiness of the US president for such a meeting.

Zelensky himself, after a conversation with Trump following the meeting between Putin and Witkoff, said that Russia "seems to be more set up for a cease-fire now," RBC reminds.