Secretary Rubio: Ukraine Peace Hinges on Mutual Concessions; Warns Against Hasty Sanctions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Sunday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must be prepared to make significant concessions to achieve a lasting peace deal in the ongoing conflict.

Speaking on ABC News’ “This Week” on August 17, 2025, Rubio emphasized, “You can’t have a peace agreement unless both sides give and get. You can’t have a peace agreement unless both sides make concessions.” He warned that imposing immediate, strong additional sanctions on Russia could halt diplomatic efforts entirely, despite acknowledging that existing sanctions are already severe.

Rubio defended the Trump administration’s cautious approach to new sanctions, arguing that “the minute you levy additional sanctions, strong additional sanctions, the talking stops.” He conceded that a point might come where more sanctions are unavoidable if peace talks fail, but stressed the current focus is on negotiation.

On Ukraine’s demands for security guarantees, Rubio affirmed the U.S. believes this is a “very reasonable” request, essential to prevent future invasions. He also confirmed that President Trump’s position on the war remains unchanged following a recent summit, reiterating that Ukraine’s involvement is crucial for any peace agreement.

While acknowledging that a peace agreement is not yet “at the precipice,” Rubio suggested that “progress was made.” He reiterated that negotiations cannot succeed if only one side is represented, underscoring the U.S. objective to bring both nations to the table.

However, former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, appearing in a subsequent interview on “This Week,” challenged Rubio’s stance on sanctions. Sullivan argued that increased pressure on Russia would actually provide the U.S. with more leverage in negotiations. “Part of the reason that Putin came to Alaska is because he’s worried about the possibility of pressure,” Sullivan stated, suggesting that escalating sanctions could accelerate an end to the war.

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