WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) suggested on Fox Business on February 29, 2024, that a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, facilitated by the United States, coudl be a pathway to ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This advancement arrives amid increased economic pressure on Russia through new tariffs.
Rubio stated that if a mutually acceptable agreement can be reached between Ukraine and russia, the U.S. president could convene a meeting involving both Zelenskyy and Putin to finalize a resolution. “If we can get what the Ukrainians will accept and what the Russians will accept close enough, then I think there’s the prospect for the president to have a meeting that includes both Putin and Zelenskyy to try to close this thing out,” Rubio said.
The push for diplomatic solutions follows a recent action by the Trump administration imposing a 25% tariff on India for its continued purchase of Russian oil. India, a major importer of Russian crude, purchased approximately 36 million barrels of Russian oil in January 2024 alone, according to data from Vortexa, a leading energy intelligence firm. This tariff aims to limit Russia’s revenue stream from oil sales, a key component of its war funding.the U.S. has been actively lobbying India to reduce its reliance on Russian energy sources,offering choice supply options,but with limited success until this latest tariff implementation.
Background: The Ukraine Conflict
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in 2014, escalating considerably with Russia’s full-scale invasion on february 24, 2022.The invasion has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and thousands of civilian casualties.key areas of conflict include the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire and achieve a lasting peace have been ongoing, led by organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union. The United States has provided considerable military and financial aid to Ukraine, totaling over $75 billion since the start of the conflict, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Negotiations have been hampered by fundamental disagreements over territorial integrity, security guarantees, and the future political status of Ukraine.
