US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that both Russia and Ukraine will need to make concessions if the ongoing war is to end in a negotiated peace. Speaking on Sunday, Rubio stressed that no side can expect complete victory, and that compromise is the only path to resolution.
Rubio acknowledged that recent talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had shown “some progress” in identifying possible areas of agreement. However, he admitted that “big areas of disagreement” remain and that a peace deal is still far from reality.
He confirmed that discussions touched on potential security guarantees for Ukraine resembling NATO’s collective defense structure, calling it a “game-changing” step. Still, Rubio emphasized that negotiations must include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly, warning that no deal could be made without Kyiv’s involvement.
Despite speculation that Ukraine may face pressure to surrender land, Rubio stated that Washington is not pushing territorial concessions. At the same time, Trump fueled debate by sharing a post suggesting Ukraine may need to give up some land to Russia. Rubio also dismissed the idea that new sanctions alone would force Moscow into peace, noting that Russia’s war economy and heavy troop losses suggest it is prepared for a long conflict.
Critics of the summit argued that Putin benefitted most, gaining visibility on the world stage without making meaningful concessions. They warned that without concrete outcomes, the risk remains that the war will drag on with no clear path to peace.