Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Politico in an interview that the United States won’t impose additional sanctions on Russia for now, and wants to leave room for negotiations on a peace deal.
“If we did what everybody here wants us to do, and that is come in and crush them with more sanctions, we probably lose our ability to talk to them about the ceasefire, and then who’s talking to them?”
Rubio said on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Rubio insisted that President Donald Trump will “know the right time and place” for introducing new measures if eventually needed. “If he does it, you’re almost admitting that this is not going to be negotiated anytime soon,” he warned.
“We’re going to continue to engage,”
Rubio continued,
“In the sense that if there’s an opportunity for us to make a difference and get them to the table, we’re going to take it.”
Additionally, Rubio came to the conclusion that Russia probably thinks it can reach its territorial goals through military action rather than negotiations, which he countered with.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders are set to meet with Trump later Wednesday to push for tougher sanctions on Russia, especially after Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently turned down US efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine.
What is Trump’s strategy for dealing with Putin?
Trump had also disbanded an inter-agency working group tasked with analysing suggestions and developing a strategy for pressuring Russia, signalling a retreat from a harder line. Still, he is evaluating options for pressuring Moscow, but is not yet ready to commit to new sanctions.
He has shown reluctance to impose new sanctions on Russia despite mounting pressure from Republicans in Congress and some White House advisors. He has held off on new penalties for months, hoping instead to develop an economic partnership with Russia and believing sanctions often escalate tensions and are ineffective.
Trump’s approach reflects his desire to avoid escalating the conflict and to keep open the possibility of negotiating a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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