Rubio, European counterparts discuss path to Ukraine ceasefire

WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call Monday with top European and Ukrainian diplomats to discuss efforts toward a cease-fire and peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine, according to the State Department.

In the call, Rubio spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said the statement.

“The leaders discussed the way forward for a ceasefire and path to peace in Ukraine,” it added.

The call came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday publicly backed US President Donald Trump’s push for a full and unconditional ceasefire, saying he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, Türkiye on Thursday.

“I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet. I will be in Türkiye. I hope that the Russians will not evade the meeting,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

Trump said earlier Monday that he is considering "flying over" for the meeting, adding he might travel to Türkiye “if I think things can happen.”

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the proposed talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in a phone call. However, a brief statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry did not say whether Putin would agree to meet Zelenskyy.