A potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin depends on progress toward ending the Ukraine war, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday. Rubio discussed the possibility with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that no meeting would occur without clear objectives.
Following talks in Saudi Arabia, Trump, who recently spoke with Putin, suggested a meeting could happen by month’s end, though Rubio was uncertain about the timing. He noted Trump aims to gauge Russia’s seriousness about peace and their demands. “The only way is to test them—see if their public and private demands align,” Rubio said.
Trump’s diplomatic push has raised concerns in Ukraine and among European allies about being excluded from peace talks. Meanwhile, tensions between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have escalated. Trump called Zelenskiy a “dictator without elections” after Zelenskiy accused him of falling for Russian disinformation.
Washington is also negotiating a deal to invest in Ukraine’s natural resources, seeking economic collaboration as a form of security. The U.S. has provided billions in military aid, and Trump has suggested investments could help recoup those funds. Rubio, who discussed the plan with Zelenskiy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Munich, emphasized a “joint venture” approach.
However, Rubio expressed frustration after Zelenskiy publicly denied agreeing to the deal. “That’s not what happened,” he said.
With geopolitical tensions high, Trump’s diplomatic efforts will determine whether a peace deal is feasible, shaping the future of U.S.-Russia-Ukraine relations.