Rubio Claims U.S. Will Soon Discover if Russia is “Leading Us On” During Ceasefire Efforts in Ukraine

Diplomatic Dance Over Ukraine

The scene was set, albeit in a different kind of arena than you might expect. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a familiar name on the international stage, picked up the phone on a quiet Saturday. On the other end, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s diplomatic heavyweight. The two top diplomats were hashing out the latest developments, trying to figure out if Russia is merely “tapping us along” in its efforts to bring the war in Ukraine to a halt. A peculiar way to spend a Saturday, but such is the life of those embroiled in global affairs.

Rubio, speaking on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” shared some insights. “We talked about a variety of things,” he said, not giving too much away. “I wanted to get his readout on his view of how the talks went yesterday. They were not a complete waste of time.” A sliver of hope, perhaps, but then again, diplomacy is often a game of patience and subtle cues. CNN reported on these exchanges, though it’s still anyone’s guess how they might unfold.

The backdrop? A meeting in Istanbul. A curious choice, maybe, for the first direct talks in three years between Moscow and Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn’t there in person, sidestepping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s invitation to meet in Turkey. Instead, he sent a lower-level team. Talks ended in under two hours, without a ceasefire, but with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. Not exactly a breakthrough, but then, not entirely fruitless either.

The larger picture includes the United States and its European allies nudging for an end to this prolonged conflict. President Trump, never shy of expressing his frustration, is reportedly considering further sanctions unless things progress. A call with Putin is on his agenda for Monday, and Zelenskyy will get his turn right after.

Rubio pondered the situation during his chat with Brennan. “Are they tapping us along? Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out,” he mused, acknowledging the delicate balance of seeking peace while not wasting precious time. “There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to.” It seems like juggling is just part of the job.

Rubio believes a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin might be the only way to break the stalemate. Although setting up such a meeting has its challenges, the idea is on the table. “The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can’t say that’s being planned as we speak,” Rubio admitted. Yet, the president is keen, it seems, to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, the Vatican has stepped into the scene, extending a “very generous offer” to host potential peace talks. Rubio, attending the Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, noted that the Vatican could be a neutral ground where all parties might feel at ease. The newly elected Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, has already echoed calls for peace in Ukraine, urging all sides to strive for an “authentic, just and lasting peace.”

So there it is, a web of conversations and possibilities, where every word counts, and every gesture might tip the scales. Who knows how it will all play out? But maybe, just maybe, there’s a glimmer of hope amid the complexity.