Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The New York Times has reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately assured European partners that current negotiations over the future of Ukraine will not encompass matters directly affecting the European Union. According to American officials cited in the report, Rubio told European diplomats behind closed doors that issues impacting Europe “will no longer be addressed within the broader negotiations,” signaling an effort to rebuild trust and provide clarity to Washington’s allies.
These assurances followed intensive talks in Switzerland involving American, European, and Ukrainian officials. It was after this round of discussions that Rubio publicly announced the creation of a separate diplomatic track focused on matters directly linked to Europe and NATO, an initiative designed to calm concerns that the United States might negotiate over European security without fully consulting its partners.
The revelations come as the U.S. administration continues to develop its proposed roadmap for a settlement to the war in Ukraine. Although the plan remains under revision, Washington has signaled its intention to move toward a structured diplomatic approach, even as the conflict shows no sign of imminent resolution.
Moscow, for its part, has maintained that it remains open to dialogue and is still committed to the Anchorage negotiating platform. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, described the American proposal as a potential foundation for a “final peaceful settlement.” However, he noted that the text had not yet been meaningfully discussed with Moscow, suggesting that Washington has struggled to secure Kyiv’s approval of the draft.
Putin warned that if Ukraine rejects the American proposals, Kyiv and what he called its “European war instigators” should expect further battlefield reversals, referencing recent events in Kupiansk in eastern Ukraine. His remarks underscored Moscow’s belief that military pressure could intensify if diplomatic initiatives fail.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also acknowledged that changes are being made to the draft plan associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. While he noted that the version received by Moscow aligns broadly with the principles of the Anchorage framework, he emphasized that the document has undergone modifications. Peskov added that talks between Russia and the United States on the peace proposal will eventually become necessary and described Trump’s settlement vision as “significant.”
The emerging dynamics reveal a complex diplomatic landscape in which Washington seeks to reassure Europe, Moscow signals conditional openness, and Kyiv faces mounting pressure from all sides. As the conflict enters another year, the path to a negotiated settlement remains fraught, but the quiet diplomacy reported this week highlights renewed attempts to shape what a future peace might look like.
