Security guarantees and territorial compromises: Rubio reveals details of ‘peace’ process
19 August 13:23
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recognized that one of the main prerequisites for peace agreements should be Ukraine’s confidence in its security in the future, but also warned against the inevitability of territorial compromises. He said this during an appearance on FOX NEWS, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Progress in negotiations: from “stagnation” to moving forward
Rubio said the meeting was an unprecedented event as seven European leaders, including the heads of NATO and the EU, gathered to discuss ways to end the war.
“The whole meeting was a big moment, unprecedented when you think about all these European leaders who came here – seven, including the head of NATO and the head of the EU. And they all said the same thing: after three years of a certain stalemate, with no negotiations and no change in the situation, this is the first time that there seems to be some movement.”
– rubio stated.
He noted that the war is complex, with heavy casualties and the exchange of territory, but now there are “ways to end it.” Rubio emphasized that the previous Biden administration offered only endless funding for Ukraine, whereas now there are real negotiations.
“Now there are people who are actually talking about paths to completion. It’s going to take some more work and time, but we’re making progress. This is not me saying this – this is what virtually every leader has said in front of the cameras today, and they’re saying it for a reason, but because it’s true and they’re witnessing it and participating in it.”
– the Secretary of State added.
Security guarantees for Ukraine: the right to alliances and a strong army
Rubio emphasized Ukraine’s right to enter into security alliances with other countries, comparing this to U.S. alliances with South Korea or Japan.
“Any sovereign country in the world has the right to make security alliances with other countries. It is not only NATO. We have such alliances with South Korea, with Japan. Other countries have them among themselves. And so I think everybody recognizes – including, by the way, for the first time the Russian side – that Ukraine after the conflict has the right to conclude security agreements with other countries.”
– rubio emphasized.
He assured that the US is working with European allies and other countries to create such guarantees to be implemented after the peace agreement.
“We will work with our European allies, and non-European countries, by the way, to build such security guarantees. We are working on that now. We will continue to work on that. And it’s going to be something that has to be in place after the peace agreement to make Ukraine feel safe going forward. We are coordinating that now. We’re participating in the coordination.”
Moreover, Rubio realizes that based on the outcome of a future peace, Ukraine must believe in its security in the future to avoid repeated aggression.
“Ukraine must feel safe in the future. In fact, they need to believe that at the end of this war they will be in a position to never be invaded again.”
– he said.
However, the official said, the strongest guarantee for Ukraine is not external assurances, but its own strong army. Although the U.S. will no longer give Ukraine weapons for free, it is ready to sell them and its European partners are ready to pay for them. This scheme fully suits the current administration of the US President.
Meeting with Putin
Rubio said he was present during Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump proposed a meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
“In that conversation, the president suggested that Zelensky and Putin meet, so we’re working on that now to set that up for them somewhere, which again would be unprecedented. And if that goes well, hopefully the next meeting will be between Presidents Putin, Trump and Zelensky where we hope to finalize the agreement. We’re not there yet, but that’s what we’re aiming for, and that’s one of the things that was discussed today, how to get to that point.”
He noted the significance of Putin agreeing to the meeting:
“The very fact that Putin says, of course I’m going to meet with Zelensky is a big deal. I’m not saying they’re going to walk out of that room best friends. I’m not saying they’re going to come out of that room with a peace agreement. But I think the fact that people are now talking to each other, that hasn’t happened for three and a half years. It was a war of death and destruction in a stalemate.”
Territorial issues: compromises as the key to peace
Regarding territorial concessions, Rubio avoided detailed comment but said it was a key negotiating point.
“In any negotiation to end a war or any conflict, both sides have to not only get but also give. Basically, one side is not going to get 100 percent here. Each side will have to make some concessions. And obviously the land where you draw those lines, where the war stops, is going to be part of that conversation.”
He emphasized that unconditional surrender by one side is impossible, so compromises are inevitable.
