Rubio States It Is Too Early for High-Level Talks with Russia

MIAMI, March 28, 2025 – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned on Thursday that it is premature to expect high-level talks with Russia as the United States continues to assess Moscow’s response to efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Responding to a question about the possibility of higher-level discussions following indirect US-led negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Rubio remarked, “I think you have to make more progress on a technical level.” He emphasised that there remains “a lot of work to be done with both sides, particularly with the Russian side, which we haven’t talked to for years.”

Rubio, who was speaking while en route to his home city of Miami after a three-nation Caribbean tour, added that it is difficult to predict how long it would take to make progress, stating, “I just can’t put a timeframe on that because it doesn’t depend on us.”

In terms of future consultations, Rubio noted that President Donald Trump’s administration would discuss the outcome of ongoing negotiations. Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly in Saudi Arabia, with hopes of opening a direct line of communication between the two leaders.

On Tuesday, the United States announced that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt strikes on the Black Sea, a significant step towards reducing hostilities. However, Russia later clarified that it had conditions attached to this ceasefire, seeking relief from the extensive sanctions imposed by the West following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Rubio had previously called for Russia to accept, without preconditions, a proposal backed by Ukraine for a 30-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed Russian calls for a reduction in Western sanctions, stressing that it is “far too early” and that further progress in the conflict must be made before such concessions are considered.