U.S. to Determine Russia’s Commitment to Ukraine Ceasefire Within Weeks, Says Rubio | Russia-Ukraine War Updates

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has informed his NATO counterparts that it will become evident within weeks whether Russia is “serious” about agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

These remarks came on Friday at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.

The top US diplomat spent much of his visit emphasizing Washington’s continued support for NATO, despite President Donald Trump’s hardline stance toward the transatlantic military alliance and recent US efforts to engage Russia in ceasefire talks for Ukraine.

“We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are,” Rubio said.

“If this is dragging things out, President Trump’s not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations,” he added.

“We’re testing to see if the Russians are interested in peace. Their actions – not their words, their actions – will determine whether they’re serious or not, and we intend to find that out sooner rather than later.”

Rubio was part of a US delegation that met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in February, in what the Trump administration described as an effort to initiate peace talks.

However, subsequent discussions have yet to produce lasting results, as Russia has rejected a ceasefire and only agreed to a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure following a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating the limited agreement.

Trump initially alarmed European allies by adopting a hardline approach toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a comparatively conciliatory tone with Russia.

However, this week, Trump said he was “very angry” with Putin and suggested imposing secondary sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree to a more comprehensive US-backed ceasefire.

Speaking at the NATO meeting, the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary accused Russia of delaying ceasefire efforts.

“Our judgment is that Putin continues to obfuscate, continues to drag his feet,” David Lammy told reporters.

“We see you, Vladimir Putin. We know what you are doing,” he said.

For their part, Russian officials have stated they cannot agree to the current terms of the US proposal.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there is reason for “cautious optimism” after a visit to Washington, DC, this week by Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev.

Still, he noted, there is “nothing in the schedule now” for another call between Putin and Trump.

Reassurance Tour

Rubio’s comments highlighted his efforts to reassure NATO allies of Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance and alleviate concerns that the Trump administration has been leaning toward Russia.

Upon arriving in Brussels, Rubio dismissed what he called “hysteria and hyperbole” in the media about the US role in the alliance.

Still, he expressed hope to leave with an understanding that all members are on a “pathway” to increasing their military spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product.

The Trump administration set this new target, up from the 2 percent commitment many countries had already struggled to meet, shortly after taking office in January.

In February, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told his NATO counterparts that the US was pivoting away from Europe as it focused on adversaries in other regions.

“President Trump’s made clear he supports NATO,” Rubio said on Thursday. “We’re going to remain in NATO.”

“We want NATO to be stronger. We want NATO to be more visible, and the only way NATO can get stronger, more visible is if our partners, the nation states that comprise this important alliance, have more capability,” he said.

Speaking to the AFP news agency on Friday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed confidence in the enduring US presence in NATO.

“The agenda is not for the US to leave NATO or to leave Europe. The US is here,” Rutte said, adding that the US may “have to rebalance” as it shifts its focus more toward Asia.

“[Trump] has committed to NATO. He has committed to Article Five,” Rutte said, referring to the alliance’s collective security agreement, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra noted that members of the alliance continue to grapple with “huge differences about a wide range of issues,” including the defense spending goal.

Speaking to public broadcaster RTBF on Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever dismissed the 5 percent spending requirement as “unfeasible.”

“Key European countries remain concerned about what happens in the near future,” Ahelbarra said, “and whether they will be able to commit the huge financial and military resources to lead their own defense.”