U.S. State Department rejects report claiming security guarantees for Ukraine would follow peace deal
The U.S. State Department rejected a report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European allies Washington wants to finalize a peace agreement before providing security guarantees to Ukraine, Politico reported, citing a European diplomat and a person familiar with the talks.
During Geneva talks, Rubio mentioned security guarantees for Ukraine but offered no details. In a November 25 call with Europeans, Rubio said President Donald Trump is ready to negotiate long-term guarantees for Ukraine.
The situation is evolving rapidly, and European allies are trying to make sense of conflicting messages from the Trump administration, the sources said.
Rubio also told Europeans that Ukraine security guarantees are a priority for the administration and separate from other agreed discussion points, one source said. The U.S. wants the full package agreed quickly, another added.
The secretary also raised several other issues to resolve post-deal, which Europeans believe involve Ukraine's territorial integrity and frozen Russian assets.
The State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott later disputed Politico's interpretation of Rubio's comments: “Secretary Rubio, along with the entire Trump administration, has clearly underscored that security guarantees would need to be part of any peace deal, as he has consistently outlined in both public and private.”
U.S. and Ukrainian delegations held consultations in Geneva on November 23. The Financial Times, citing sources, reported the proposed U.S. peace plan was shortened from 28 to 19 points. Final decisions on the framework will be made by the presidents of Ukraine and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron later announced a new working group led by France and Britain to develop security guarantees for Ukraine.