Rubio Plays It Cool: Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Hit A Wall, But Hope Isn't Dead Yet

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is keeping expectations in check as peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia inch forward—but not quite enough to break out the confetti just yet. On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Rubio acknowledged progress but made it clear that a deal is still out of reach, saying, "We've made real progress, but the last couple steps of this journey were always going to be the hardest." He emphasized that time and patience aren’t limitless, warning, "We cannot continue to, as I said, to dedicate time and resources to this issue if it's not gonna come to fruition."

Rubio described the past week as a reality check, with mediators trying to gauge if both sides are close enough to warrant more U.S. involvement. He called it "silly" to put a hard deadline on American mediation, but noted this week is make-or-break: "This week is going to be a very important week at which we need to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in, or if it's time to sort of focus on some other issues that are equally if not more important in some cases." If diplomacy had a mood ring, it would be stuck on "anxiously waiting."

In the background, former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican, a meeting both sides described as “productive” and “symbolic.” Details were scarce—apparently, what happens at the Vatican stays at the Vatican—but Zelenskyy hinted the event could be "historic."

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine still run hot, with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin sticking to their guns and demands. Trump, chiming in from Rome on Truth Social, said the two sides are "very close to a deal," adding, "Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov played it coy, refusing to spill any negotiation secrets during his CBS interview. He insisted, "Russia is always available for a dialogue," then added a diplomatic zinger—the kind that makes you wonder if Russia’s negotiation strategy is just to bore everyone else into agreement. As for a possible Trump-Putin meeting? Lavrov says, "The two presidents are masters of their own destiny and their own schedule." Translation: don’t hold your breath, but don’t rule out a surprise plot twist either.