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No Breakthrough Coming Without Trump-Putin Meeting, Rubio Says
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed limited expectations for progress in the latest round of discussions between Ukraine and Russia, which are taking place in Istanbul, according to BBC on May 15.
Rubio noted that Russia had sent a relatively low-level delegation to the talks, which he suggested could limit their effectiveness.
“The Russian representation was not at the levels we had hoped it would be at,” Rubio said.
While emphasizing that he hopes the discussions yield results, Rubio was measured in his outlook:
“I hope I’m wrong. I hope they have tremendous breakthroughs tomorrow.”
However, he added that significant progress may require direct engagement at the highest level:
“But I frankly do not believe that we’re going to have a breakthrough here until President Trump sits face-to-face with Putin and determines what his intentions are moving forward.”
On the same day, US President Donald Trump declared that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia would not advance until he holds a direct meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian delegation heading to Türkiye as a “mere facade,” casting doubt on Moscow’s intentions ahead of the anticipated talks.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
