Rubio Doubts Quick Ukraine Deal, Putin Miami Trip

ATLANTA, Georgia: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was unsure whether a negotiated peace in Ukraine is achievable, offering a cautious assessment as the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta concluded on October 31. European officials told RFE/RL that Rubio privately expressed doubts to Western counterparts about a settlement in the coming months.

At his closing news conference, Rubio declined to predict a quick end to the conflict. "I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine. That's what we're trying to find out," Rubio said. "I don't think anyone here is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement." He noted that President Donald Trump's envoys, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are focused on the Ukraine and Iran portfolios.

Three European officials said Rubio also privately expressed skepticism that Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the G20 leaders summit in Miami in December, an event Trump plans to host at his Doral resort. Publicly, Rubio said he did not know if Putin would come, noting the invitation has not been confirmed. He defended the decision to engage with Moscow, stating that diplomacy is necessary to reach a settlement. "It is always important that the United States and Russia have communications at some level because of the danger of escalation in the future," Rubio said, citing Russia's nuclear arsenal.

The officials added that Rubio described Ukraine's potential NATO membership as unrealistic in the short term and unacceptable to Putin. He also warned that Russia's acquisition of the entire Donbas region would not satisfy the Kremlin's territorial ambitions, telling the Europeans it "will not end Russian appetite." The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the private remarks.

While skeptical of a broad agreement, Rubio identified a narrower goal: a cease-fire covering the Black Sea. He said Washington is reviewing proposals from Turkey and that India has expressed interest in submitting ideas. "I wouldn't call it momentum," Rubio said, describing instead a growing interest among countries in acting as guarantors. "We'd like to achieve it. It doesn't solve the war, but at least it solves a unique aspect of it."

The two-day meeting ended without a joint communique, as disagreements over Ukraine, the Middle East, trade, and maritime security blocked consensus. The U.S. presidency issued a chairman's statement on energy and food security, critical minerals, supply chains, and freedom of navigation, which made no mention of Russia or Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the gathering, prompting several delegations to decline participation in the traditional family photograph; the photo was canceled. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia did not appear ready for peace negotiations.

Rubio estimated that around 20,000 Russians are being killed each month in the conflict. "It's a very deadly and destructive war," he said, warning that every additional month of fighting would make the reconstruction of Ukraine more difficult. The Atlanta meeting was the final high-level gathering before the leaders' summit in Miami in mid-December.