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Ukraine and US invited to discuss foreign policy at EU ministers meeting

by editor

KYIV — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha have received invitations to attend an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for February 12 in Brussels.

The invitations were confirmed by two Ukrainian diplomatic officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. This meeting could mark the first official interaction between Ukraine and the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, contingent on Rubio’s attendance.

EU’s outreach to U.S. and Ukraine amid ongoing conflict

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, stated on Monday that she had extended a standing invitation to Rubio, encouraging him to participate in the meeting to “explain the views of the United States” on various international issues. While Rubio expressed skepticism about the significance of this week’s gathering, Kallas later communicated with him directly, covering topics such as Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, Iran’s detrimental influence, and the challenges posed by China.

Efforts to engage with U.S. officials have intensified among Kyiv’s representatives, who are keen to understand the Trump administration’s strategies for resolving the conflict with Russia. Despite multiple public statements from U.S. officials regarding their commitment to ending the war, direct communication with Kyiv has yet to occur.

U.S. commitment to ending the conflict

President Trump has frequently asserted his intention to swiftly conclude Russia’s large-scale invasion, while Ukrainian officials have emphasized the necessity for any peace agreement to secure advantageous terms for Ukraine. Following President Trump’s public declarations of strength against Russia, Ukrainian officials remain optimistic yet cautious.

“We want the war to end. That’s pretty clear. You saw the president talked about [it], he wants to be a president that promotes peace and ends conflicts, and it’ll be complicated as well,” Rubio remarked earlier in January.

Rubio further elaborated on the complexities involved: “Those are complicated things. I don’t — couldn’t put a time frame on it, other than to say that anytime you bring an end to a conflict between two sides, neither of whom can achieve their maximum goals, each side is going to have to give up something.” This sentiment underscores the intricate dynamics at play as diplomatic entities navigate the path toward peace.

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