Donald Trump is working around the clock on a critical issue. He’s running out of time.
But the Secretary of State said three words in a Fox interview that are game-changing for the President.
Trump Pushes for Ukraine Peace Deal as Rubio Calls for Realistic Concessions Amid Ongoing Russian Assaults
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime Monday, stressing that the war could end if Ukraine gains assurances of future security. This comes as President Donald Trump ramps up diplomatic efforts, holding key talks with global figures like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to broker a resolution.
During the interview, host Jesse Watters pressed Rubio on whether Ukraine must yield to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s land grabs. Rubio dismissed the notion of public disclosures, arguing that “negotiations frankly work best when they’re done privately.”
He added, “When we have a deal, I’ll describe it to you for sure. But look, that’s why you got to give these guys space to work. They have their own constituencies, OK? They have their own considerations, and you don’t want to give away one side’s leverage in that regard. But let me just say this about it. I think everyone understands that some of the key elements to bringing this about is Ukraine has to feel safe moving forward.”
Rubio emphasized the need for Ukraine to emerge from the fight confident against future invasions. “In essence, they have to believe that at the end of this war they are in a position to never get invaded again. I think what’s also true — and I think it’s common sense, and I don’t know why it’s so hard for a lot of people to understand it — is in any negotiation to bring about the end of a war or any conflict for that matter, it’s going to require both sides to receive but also to give,” he said. “In essence, one side is not going to get 100% here.”
These comments follow Trump’s high-stakes summit with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last Friday, marking a shift from Putin’s earlier resistance to dialogue despite Trump’s persistent peace overtures. Recent reports show Putin might pause hostilities if Kyiv cedes the Donbas area, but Zelenskyy rejected this, stating, “For Russians, Donbas is a bridgehead for a future new offensive,” according to the Business Standard.
Amid these talks, Russian forces unleashed their biggest August barrage on Ukraine, firing 270 drones and 10 missiles, with Ukrainian defenses downing 30 drones and six missiles, leading to civilian deaths. This assault came right after Trump’s Alaska meeting, highlighting the urgency of a deal as Moscow presses on in Donetsk Oblast.
Military analysts note Russian troops are grinding forward in Donetsk, capturing villages but failing to achieve quick gains after over a decade of stalled efforts there. By August, territorial lines show Russia holding key swaths, but Ukraine’s defenses have held firm in strategic spots, per a PBS timeline of shifts.
Trump, ruling out U.S. boots on the ground in any peace framework, told reporters that security for Kyiv could come from European allies under American oversight. This America First approach avoids entangling U.S. forces in foreign quagmires, a stark contrast to prior administrations’ endless aid funnels.
European leaders huddled with Zelenskyy in Washington to hash out these guarantees, as Trump proposes a direct Putin-Zelenskyy face-off, possibly with his involvement. Sources say Putin seeks full sway over Donetsk and Luhansk to freeze lines, but no formal pact emerged from Alaska.
Rubio reiterated that compromises are inevitable. “Each side is going to have to make some concessions and, obviously, land or where you draw those lines — where the war stops is going to be part of that conversation. It’s not easy, and maybe it’s not even fair, but it’s what it takes in order to bring about an end to a war. That has been true in every war,” he explained. “The only wars that don’t end that way are the ones that have unconditional surrender by one side or the other, and we’re not going to see that in this conflict.”
He praised Trump’s facilitation role: “The president’s been very clear in the end what those lines look like are up to Putin and up to Zelensky and up to the Ukrainian side to decide what each of them can live with. We are going to be there to facilitate that and make that possible and make sure that both sides are talking. We should be proud that we have a president that’s made peace a priority in his administration.”
Details of proposals remain under wraps, but post-Alaska, both Trump and Putin described progress without a signed agreement. Trump hinted in a Fox interview that a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting looms, potentially with him present.
As strikes continue—Russia downed 24 Ukrainian drones overnight—displaced Ukrainians number 5.7 million refugees and 3.8 million internally, noting the human toll after three-plus years. July saw Russia deploy a record 6,200 attack drones, ramping up pressure.
Trump’s stance evolves from campaign vows to end the war swiftly, now focusing on immediate halts as he claims Zelenskyy holds keys to quick resolution. Critics in Kyiv eye Putin’s Alaska visit warily, but Trump’s team insists on pride in prioritizing talks over escalation.
With Russia reaffirming no NATO troops in Ukraine and Europe stepping up, the path forward hinges on concessions, as Rubio warns total victory eludes both sides. Under Trump’s leadership, hopes rise for a deal that spares American lives and treasure while securing borders at home.
