Context:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that despite some progress, the Trump-Putin summit did not bring the United States any closer to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. While Trump praised the summit as highly successful due to good rapport with Putin, Rubio emphasized that significant disagreements remain, indicating the long road ahead for a peace agreement. The potential swapping of land between Ukraine and Russia has raised concerns in Europe, suggesting that Ukraine might have to cede territory to Russia. Rubio dismissed criticism of Trump's lenient stance towards Russia, emphasizing that peace negotiations should remain private to be effective. He also noted that concessions were discussed, but revealing them publicly would be counterproductive to reaching an agreement.

Dive Deeper:

• Marco Rubio, speaking on ABC's 'This Week', stated that while there was progress in identifying potential areas of agreement during the Trump-Putin summit, major disagreements still exist, making a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine a distant goal.

• Trump's positive declaration of the summit as a '10 out of 10' was based on his good personal interaction with Putin, yet Rubio highlighted the need for substantial diplomatic work that remains unaddressed.

• Concerns arose in Europe over Trump's mention of possible land swaps, which could imply Ukraine might have to surrender territory to Russia as part of a peace settlement, stirring fears among Ukraine's European allies.

• Rubio, who was present at the summit, argued that the absence of tougher actions against Russia was intentional, as the meeting aimed to open avenues for negotiation rather than impose immediate penalties.

• Emphasizing the importance of confidentiality, Rubio asserted that effective peace negotiations require private discussions away from media scrutiny, as public disclosures could hinder the process and create diplomatic friction.

• Responding to criticisms of Trump’s seemingly amicable approach to Putin, Rubio defended the strategy, stating that peace cannot be achieved through public insults, which would only cause parties to withdraw from negotiations.

• He confirmed that Trump did request concessions from Putin, but stressed the importance of discretion to ensure both sides remain engaged and willing to negotiate in good faith.