The best thing russians can do is just agree - Rubio says after meeting in Jeddah
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes that in the current situation it would be best for russia to agree to the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine.
He made this statement at a joint press conference with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz after a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia.
Rubio told reporters that Washington would convey Ukraine's position on the negotiations to Moscow.
"The only way to end the war is through diplomacy. It is impossible to end it militarily. The goal is to sit down at the negotiating table, but how can you do that when you continue to shoot at each other," he said.
Rubio added that the White House has "many channels" through which information about the 30-day ceasefire can be conveyed.
"The best thing the russians can do is simply agree to the Ukrainian side's offer to cease fire and sit down at the negotiating table. This would be the best "gesture of goodwill" that we can expect," Rubio explained.
He emphasized that it is necessary to discuss the issue of the return of Ukrainian children taken to russia and the issue of the release of prisoners of war.
"We have moved from the question of whether the war should be stopped to the question of how to stop it," Rubio concluded.
As a reminder, negotiations between the Ukrainian and American delegations have concluded in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine has expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal to immediately introduce a temporary, 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual consent of the parties and upon acceptance and implementation by the russian side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine accepts the US proposal to establish a complete ceasefire, not only regarding missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line.
The Office of the President also emphasized that, following the talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States decided to resume intelligence sharing and military assistance to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his American counterpart Donald Trump want to conclude an agreement on the development of Ukraine's critical mineral resources as soon as possible.