‘Plan A is get the taking pictures to cease’ — Rubio says as US pushes for ceasefire in Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described a latest assembly between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "promising" whereas acknowledging the complexities of ending the continued struggle.

Talking on CBS’s "Face the Nation" on March 16, Rubio stated the discussions supplied perception into whether or not Russia is genuinely contemplating a ceasefire or merely stalling for time.

Rubio outlined the U.S. administration’s two-phase method to ending Russia's struggle in opposition to Ukraine, now in its fourth 12 months.

"Plan A is, get the taking pictures to cease in order that we will transfer to Plan B, part two, which is have everyone at a desk, possibly not- possibly with some shuttle diplomacy, to determine a technique to completely finish this struggle in a means that's enduring and it respects everyone's wants and so forth," he stated.

Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says“I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we’re also continuing to engage and have a conversation with the Ukrainians,” Witkoff told CNN after meeting Putin in Moscow on March 13, as cited by Reuters.The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The secretary emphasised that the precedence stays attaining a ceasefire earlier than starting broader negotiations for a everlasting decision. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that even reaching a ceasefire can be tough, given the complexity of the battlefield and the pursuits at stake.

Whereas Rubio kept away from disclosing particulars of the negotiations, he remained cautiously optimistic. He stated that President Donald Trump is dedicated to bringing the struggle to an finish and is actively working to make sure a cessation of hostilities. "Nobody is saying that that second half is straightforward, however we will't get even to that second half till we get previous the primary half," he stated, underlining the administration’s technique.

The secretary additionally highlighted the necessity for diplomatic engagement and potential concessions from either side to attain a long-lasting peace. "This struggle can not proceed. The president has been clear about that, and he's doing all the things he can to convey it to an finish," he concluded.

‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for MoscowThe Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for waysThe Kyiv IndependentYana Prots