US Secretary of State Rubio Says US May Participate in Russia-Ukraine Talks This Week

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said the United States may join in the continuation of this week's talks between Russia and Ukraine, where territorial issues will be the main point of contention.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations with the mediation of the United States met in lateral talks for the first time on Friday and Saturday last week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on plans driven by President Donald Trump.

"They will (hold) further talks this week," Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (29/1).

"There will probably be a presence from the US," he added.

However, Secretary of State Rubio said US participation would be smaller than last week when President Trump's chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff, and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined.

Foreign Minister Rubio hinted that an agreement had been reached on security guarantees for Ukraine, their main demand before compromising almost four years after the Russian invasion.

"The one thing that remains - which you all know - is the territorial claim over Donetsk," Rubio said, referring to the eastern Ukrainian region, where Moscow wants Kyiv to hand over land.

"I know there are active efforts to try to see if the views of both parties can be reconciled. This is still a bridge that we have not crossed," he explained.

Secretary of State Rubio acknowledged the issue would be "very difficult," especially for Ukraine.

"It's easier for the parties involved to find flexibility on some of these issues if they're not discussed publicly on a constant basis, because that creates internal political pressure on both sides - as you can imagine in Ukraine, the idea that you would even consider territorial changes," said Secretary of State Rubio.