The key facts
- Witkoff met with Zelensky in Norway and is heading to St. Petersburg for talks with Russia
- Rubio called the meeting 'positive' and said Ukraine's priority is guarantees against a renewed attack
- Trump said the EU is 'tired of spending' money on Ukraine and urged Zelensky to make a deal
Witkoff Heading to St. Petersburg
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in India on Wednesday that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway on Tuesday, is heading to St. Petersburg, where he will present the Russian side ideas on Ukraine's long-term security. 'As far as I understand, he is already on his way,' Rubio said.
Assessment of the Meeting and Kyiv's Priorities
Rubio characterized the Witkoff-Zelensky meeting as 'positive': according to him, 'nothing unexpected and nothing surprising' was said at it. He noted that Ukraine's main priority is guarantees that would rule out a renewed Russian attack in the future. Armed with the ideas discussed with Zelensky, Witkoff intends to present them to the Russian side in order to advance the negotiations.
Statements on the US Role and Trump's Position
Rubio also defended the Trump administration's role in supporting Kyiv, stating: 'If it were not for the assistance of the United States, including under the Trump administration, Ukraine would not exist today' as a sovereign state. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the EU is 'tired of spending' money on Ukraine and urged Zelensky to make a deal to end the war. Asked whether the peace process is back on track after the talks in Oslo, he replied: 'I think what's happening is that Russia wants to end this,' adding that Russia is a 'big machine' that 'just keeps moving forward' and has an 'unlimited supply of people.'
