Rubio: European leadership key for peace in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his counterparts from Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy on Thursday, that the role of Europe is crucial to encourage Russia and Ukraine to make peace quickly – the Department of State said. He simultaneously warned against the “marginalization” of the American arms industry by Europe.

The Department of State presented the course of the conversation with the heads of the transatlantic Friday (Quint) in Turkish Antalya, where the meeting of NATO foreign ministers takes place.

“Secretary Rubio informed the ministers about the efforts of President Trump aiming at stopping the senseless bloodshed of blood in Ukraine and emphasized that European leadership is of key importance to the inclination of Russia and Ukraine to negotiate in good faith in good and permanent peace solution” – the spokeswoman of the Tammy Bruce will be said in a statement.

Diplomats were to agree on the “urgent need” to increase defense expenditure by NATO countries, but Rubio emphasized that “American arms companies are an integral part of the transatlantic industrial base and should not be marginalized in Europe's efforts to rearrate.” This is another criticism of EU arms initiatives focused on purchasing equipment produced in Europe.

Rubio also confirmed that the US intends to remove sanctions from Syria to “give her a chance for greatness.” Among other topics of conversations were negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program and “fight against China's influence”.

Rubio: I do not expect a breakthrough after the talks of Russia and Ukraine, the needed meeting Trump-Putin

“We do not have high expectations about what will happen tomorrow,” said Rubio during a meeting with journalists accompanying him at the meeting of the ministers of NATO countries in Antalya. He stated that, contrary to earlier announcements, he would not be present at these conversations, but the US would send someone there “at the appropriate level”.

He repeated the earlier statement of President Donald Trump, who suggested that a Trump-Putin meeting was needed to solve the conflict.

“The only way to achieve a breakthrough is a meeting between President Trump and President Putin. This will require this level of commitment to achieve a breakthrough in this matter,” said Rubio.

Trump previously suggested that he could fly to Turkey for conversations, if Putin was there, and on Thursday he said that “nothing would happen until Putin and he met.”

He assured, however, that he was not disappointed with the low level of the delegation, which Russia sent to Istanbul.

Rubio also denied the reports that the US was against the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelanski to the NATO summit in Hague.

Ultimately, the Minister of Defense Rust Rust of the Dies is to be the head of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while the Russian delegation is managed by the adviser of Vladimir Putin Vladimir Miedinski.

Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

OSK/ MMS/