Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin produced enough movement to justify a meeting with Ukrainian and European leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC on Sunday (August 17), Reuters reports.
Rubio also said both Russia and Ukraine would have to make concessions to end the war.
European leaders will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet Trump in Washington on Monday (August 18), seeking to bolster him as the president presses Ukraine to accept a quick peace deal after meeting Putin on Friday (August 15).
"We're not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We're not at the edge of one. But I do think progress was made towards one," Rubio told Martha Raddatz, co-anchor of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
Rubio's comments were among the first by senior U.S. officials present at the talks with Putin.
In a social media post, Trump wrote, "BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!" He gave no further details.
Rubio said the talks had narrowed down the key issues, among them, long-term security guarantees for Kyiv, he said, adding, "It's going to take a lot of work."
Putin has ruled out Ukraine becoming a member of NATO. Article 5 of the alliance's charter is a mutual defense pact obliging allies to defend a member from attacks.
According to sources, Trump and Putin discussed proposals for Russia to relinquish tiny pockets of occupied Ukraine in exchange for Ukraine ceding a swathe of fortified land in the east and freezing the front lines elsewhere.
"Both sides are going to have to make concessions," said Rubio.
Rubio said if a deal could not be reached to end the war, existing U.S. sanctions on Russia would continue, and more could be added.
