Rubio announces progress in talks with Russia, and Putin threatens Ukraine news

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “some progress” had been made in talks with Russia to end the war with Ukraine, while Moscow said that no settlement had been reached, while Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Kiev to escalate attacks.

Rubio said, in an interview with the American Fox News network, “What we tried to do, and I think we made some progress, is to find out what the Ukrainians can live with that gives them security guarantees for the future.”

He added that the United States hopes the settlement will allow Ukrainians “not only to rebuild their economy, but also to thrive as a nation.”

On the other hand, the Kremlin announced – yesterday evening, Tuesday – that no “settlement” had been reached regarding the territories controlled by Russia in Ukraine, after hours-long talks between Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Kremlin diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov said in response to a journalist’s question, “So far we have not reached a settlement, but it is possible to discuss some American proposals.”

He explained that “the talks were very useful and constructive”, but “there is still a lot of work” to reach an agreement.

Putin threatens

Before the meeting began, Russian President Vladimir Putin made statements in which he escalated his threats towards Kiev, vowing to intensify strikes against Ukrainian facilities and ships after attacks carried out in the Black Sea, and warning against taking measures against tankers of countries that provide support to Ukraine.

Putin also considered the European demands unacceptable to Russia, and said that if they want to fight, Russia is ready, adding that they are obstructing the efforts of the US administration and President Trump to achieve peace through talks.

After this meeting with the Russians in Moscow, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may meet a delegation from Kiev in Europe today, Wednesday, according to what a Ukrainian source told Agence France-Presse.

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of taking advantage of the negotiations to try to weaken the sanctions imposed on it. During a visit to Ireland, he called for an end to the war, and not just a “truce” in the fighting.

Zelensky – who is facing increasing political and military pressure – received a strong dose of support from French President Emmanuel Macron, who reaffirmed the Europeans’ mobilization to ensure a “just and lasting peace.”

Macron welcomed the American mediation efforts, but explained that “no plan has been completed today in the strict sense of the word.” He added, “(This plan) cannot be accomplished without the presence of Europeans at the table.”

Stop using Russian gas

In a parallel context, the European Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement to end Russian gas imports by 2027, as part of efforts to end dependence on Russian energy, according to what Reuters reported from the European Council.

According to Reuters, the agreement includes a gradual, legally binding ban on imports of liquefied natural gas and gas via pipelines from Russia, with a complete ban on both, starting from the end of 2026 and the fall of 2027, respectively.

Last October, Russia’s share of European Union gas imports reached 12%, after representing 45% before the start of the war with Ukraine, with countries – including Hungary, France and Belgium – continuing to receive Russian gas.

In the same context, Reuters quoted 4 sources that the European Commission intends to submit a legal proposal this week to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine, while leaving the door open to the possibility of borrowing from financial markets or combining the two options.

Most of the Russian assets frozen in Europe are located in the accounts of the Belgian securities company Euroclear, and the Belgian government has repeatedly expressed concerns about the legal risks that this move would entail.