Rubio: Ukraine Peace Deal Must Ensure ‘They Never Have Another War Again’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear on Sunday that the United States will not back any peace agreement in Ukraine that fails to guarantee the country’s long-term security and independence. Speaking at the start of high-stakes negotiations in Miami, Rubio emphasized that the goal isn’t just to stop the current conflict — but to make sure Ukraine “never has another war again.”
“This is not just about ending a war,” Rubio said, “this is about ending a war in a way that creates a mechanism and a way forward that will allow them to be independent and sovereign and never have another war again.”
Rubio’s statement came as top American and Ukrainian officials met in Miami to finalize terms ahead of a crucial round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. delegation included Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ukrainian negotiators were led by national security adviser Rustem Umerov after the abrupt resignation of chief negotiator Andriy Yermak, who is under investigation in a major corruption scandal.
The Miami summit followed a wave of criticism over a 28-point U.S.-backed peace framework that critics said was too favorable to Moscow. A streamlined 19-point version reportedly had broader support in Kyiv, but Russia appears poised to reject it.
Umerov, now leading Ukraine’s negotiating team, said talks in Miami would focus on “safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing on the basis of the progress achieved in Geneva.”
Trump’s envoys are expected to present the updated agreement directly to Putin on Tuesday during a trip to Moscow, aiming to finalize what the former president has framed as a “dignified end” to the war. Trump has insisted he will personally meet with Zelensky and Putin only when the deal is either final or in its final stages.
President Trump has already signaled that the path forward must balance territorial realities with guarantees for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Russia, meanwhile, has reiterated its intent to secure land it has long sought — whether through negotiation or continued force.
The Miami talks mark a pivotal phase in Trump’s push to broker a peace deal in Eastern Europe, as the administration tries to secure a landmark foreign policy victory while fending off critics who claim the U.S. could leave Ukraine exposed to future aggression.