US Secretary of State assessed the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Trump

The prospect of a face-to-face meeting between US leader Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin depends on progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with journalist Catherine Herridge on February 20.

"The timing of the meeting depends largely on whether progress can be made in ending the conflict," a video of the interview was published on the journalist's X network (former Twitter).

Rubio emphasized that the only way for Trump to really find out if Russia is serious about ending the conflict and on what terms is to engage in a dialogue with the country.

He also pointed to the U.S. consulting with allies on the issue, including European countries and Ukraine itself.

"The Ukrainians have to be part of the process. Russia can't make a ceasefire without their consent, just as we can't lift sanctions without Europe's participation. Everyone has to be involved," Rubio summarized.

"We are seeing the beginning of a complete U.S. withdrawal from the conflict in Ukraine"

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the talks between Russia and the United States useful. The Russian Foreign Minister specified that Rubio emphasized the importance for each state to be guided by its national interests. The Russian side expressed full agreement, Lavrov added.

Thetalks between the Russian and US delegations took place in one of the palaces of the royal family in Riyadh on Tuesday, February 18. At their conclusion, the U.S. side said that the U.S. considers the meeting with the Russian delegation "an important step forward" to end the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, the State Department specified that additional steps were still required.