HALLANDALE, Fla. (Chatnewstv.com) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov met Saturday in Florida, emphasizing that any peace settlement to end the war must guarantee Ukraine’s long-term independence and economic future.
Speaking to reporters before their meeting in Hallandale, Rubio stressed that the current diplomatic efforts, building off previous progress in Geneva, aimed for more than just a ceasefire.
“The end goal is obviously not just the end of the war, obviously. That’s central and fundamental. We want to see the end of the killing and the death and the suffering,” Rubio said.
However, the secretary insisted that ending the conflict alone was insufficient to achieve true stability.
“This is not just about peace deals. It’s about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent, and prosperous,” he stated, highlighting Ukraine’s “tremendous economic potential” once the war ends. “Ending a war alone won’t achieve that.”
Umerov expressed deep gratitude for Washington’s continued involvement and the diplomatic push led by the U.S.
“First of all, I would like to start with American people, American leadership, President Trump’s initiative for the peace,” Umerov said. He confirmed that the ongoing discussions centered on Ukraine’s future, its security against renewed aggression, rebuilding the country, and achieving prosperity.
The Ukrainian official acknowledged the critical role of the U.S. team in the process.
“U.S. is hearing us. U.S. is supporting us. U.S. is walking besides us. And we are thankful for all what has been done until today,” Umerov added.
Rubio closed the brief exchange by thanking Umerov for traveling to Florida for the talks and lightly joking about the weather, saying, “We apologize for the rain. It’s not supposed to be raining, but there’s only certain things we can control.”
