The US has a better understanding of the conditions under which Russia would be prepared to end its war in Ukraine after President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.
"For the first time perhaps since this administration began, we have some concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end the war," Rubio said in an interview with Fox Business Network's Kudlow, adding that the key elements of any agreement would involve territory.
He added that he doesn't know if the reported meeting between Trump and Putin will happen next week, and that it depends on how much progress both sides can make.
Additionally, when asked if Trump would impose secondary sanctions on Russia on Friday, as the US president had threatened last week, Rubio responded that Trump would make that decision within the next 24-36 hours.
Useful and constructive talks
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that the talks between Putin and Witkoff were "useful and constructive."
Ushakov told Russian news outlet Zvezda that the two sides discussed the conflict in Ukraine and the potential for improving US-Russia relations. He said Moscow had received certain "signals" from Trump and had sent messages in return.
Witkoff held around three hours of talks with Putin in the Kremlin, two days before the expiry of a deadline set by Trump for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or face new sanctions.