It will soon become clear whether Putin wants peace

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the coming weeks will be critical in determining Russian President Vladimir Putin's actual readiness for peace negotiations. 

In an interview with CBS News, he noted that, according to Putin's remarks during his meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin is allegedly interested in peace, but everything depends on subsequent actions.

Negotiations are the first step, but the road to peace is long

Rubio noted that Putin's initial statements are only the beginning of the process, and real results can only be assessed in the coming days and weeks. He emphasised that even if Russia expresses a willingness for peace, the process will not be completed by "a single phone call".

"One conversation does not establish peace. It is only the first step, and there is a long way ahead. It is important to see the actions that follow this statement", Rubio noted, adding that there is still a lot of work to be done.

US expectations and hopes

The Secretary of State emphasised that the path to peace will require significant effort, but expressed hope that concrete steps will be taken in the future to end the conflict in Ukraine, which will ensure lasting peace and preserve Ukraine's sovereignty.