The problem of concluding the war in Ukraine involves two plans: Plan A and Plan B. It is not possible to move forward with the second plan until the first one is addressed, according to CBS News quoting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Under plan A, our primary objective is to halt the fighting so we can proceed to plan B, specifically stage two, where all parties involved will be seated around a table—possibly utilizing shuttle diplomacy—to devise a lasting solution that brings an eternal end to this conflict. This resolution should honor everyone’s interests and requirements. It goes without saying that achieving these goals won’t be simple; however, advancing beyond the initial step is necessary before tackling what comes next," explained Rubio.
He pointed out that nobody has claimed the second phase would be simple. Nevertheless, advancing with it cannot happen before finishing the initial stage. The Secretary of State highlighted how challenging it is to broker a robust conclusion to the conflict as long as both parties continue firing upon each another. This explains why U.S. President Donald Trump advocates for an immediate truce.
"We’re focusing on this task with the hope that we can accomplish it. Achieving this won’t be straightforward,” he explained. “Once completed, we’ll proceed to the next stage: negotiations for a lasting and stable agreement. This part will also pose significant challenges. Both parties must put in substantial effort and make considerable compromises, yet it’s necessary. This conflict needs to stop. The president has made his position very clear on ending it, and he’s exerting all possible efforts towards achieving that goal.”
The host additionally brought up Rubio’s comments regarding the encounter between Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting aimed at determining if both parties were progressing towards a truce or if Russia was merely employing delaying tactics. The journalist then referenced the previous day's discussion between the Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Upon being questioned about whether Russia was postponing talks and his thoughts on Witkowf's meeting, he answered accordingly.
"The meeting was quite encouraging. As I’ve mentioned multiple times, we won’t be discussing this in the open. We hope to make an announcement shortly. While I cannot ensure this will happen, I do believe the discussion today was indeed positive and fruitful," stated the Secretary of State.
He stated that he did not form a negative opinion from Witkoff's meeting with Putin but also acknowledged the difficulties, as the war in Ukraine has many facets.
"Some difficulties exist. This is an intricate conflict lasting for three years on a lengthy battlefield, filled with numerous complexities. Therefore, nobody claims that it will be simple," Rubio further explained.
It has come to light through The Independent that Ukraine has set certain conditions for reaching any peace deal with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin. Territorial concerns remain at the forefront of these conditions. To learn more about this situation, refer to RBC-Ukraine's report.