Top News

Washington, DC: According to Anadolu Agency, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday (local time) that Washington will impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not submit a formal proposal detailing its demands for a truce in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that such a Russian delay would demonstrate Moscow’s genuine desire to engage in negotiations on the issue.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio told the Senate Committee, “It’s our understanding that the Russians are going to write up terms for what they would require in order to reach a ceasefire that then would allow broader negotiations.”

“We await those terms, and then I’ll have a much better understanding about Mr. Putin’s calculation once we see what those terms look like,” he said.

In response to a question regarding the likelihood of fresh sanctions, Rubio said that they are likely to be implemented if Russia shows no signs of pursuing peace and keeps up the war effort.

He said, as cited by Anadolu Agency, “it may very well come to that point if it is clear that the Russians are not interested in a peace deal and they just want to keep fighting a war.”

Rubio emphasized, however, that US President Donald Trump would rather not impose penalties at this time because he believes it may sabotage the diplomatic effort.

Rubio was reported by Anadolu Agency as saying, “The president believes that right now, if you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking.”

According to Rubio, Trump is “very committed” to bringing the fight to a peaceful conclusion and wants to continue to have the power to persuade both sides to do so.

Following a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Monday, US President Trump said that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” start talks toward a ceasefire and a possible end to the continuing conflict.

He said that the Vatican has shown interest in holding the talks, represented by recently elected Pope Leo XIV.

Despite the two countries’ agreement to swap detainees, this suggestion is in line with the Pope’s request on May 16 to mediate peace negotiations after the recent collapse of ceasefire talks in Istanbul.