U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

Secretary of State Marco Rubio with George Stephanopoulos of ABC This Week
03/02/2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio with George Stephanopoulos of ABC This Week
03/02/2025 11:11 AM EST

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us this morning. Has there been any contact with President Zelenskyy since Friday?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I haven’t had any contact with him since Friday. We have plenty of contacts with him, though. Plenty. I mean, he met – in the last ten days, he’s met with the Secretary of Commerce – he spoke to the President on the phone, met with the Secretary of Commerce, met with me, met with the Vice President, met with our special envoy, and then was invited and came over on – invited. He wanted to come over on Friday to sign this commercial deal that didn’t happen. So there’s been plenty of contact with them. I’ve talked to the foreign minister several times – not since then. And we’ll see moving forward.

I think the last line in the President’s Truth Social post is the one to focus in on, and that is we’ll be ready to reengage when they’re ready to make peace, which is clearly what the President’s goal is here. He’s trying to get Russia to the table to bring about – to see if there’s a way to bring about an end to this conflict. That’s his goal. That’s his only goal. That’s his centralized focus. And hopefully, we’ll get to a point where that’s possible.

QUESTION: The British prime minister said this morning that the United Kingdom and France are working on a peace plan with Ukraine to present to the U.S. Do you know where things stand with that plan?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No. I mean, I’ve talked to both of the foreign ministers of France and the UK yesterday, and I explained to them sort of the events leading up to what you saw on Friday.

Look, I think what’s really important here is to understand the dynamic. The President is basically saying there’s this horrible war, it’s been going on for three years, it is a bloody stalemate, a meatgrinder type war, and he wants it to end. How does it end? It’s very simple. The only way it ends is if Vladimir Putin comes to a negotiating table. And right now, President Trump is the only person on Earth who has any chance whatsoever of bringing him to a table to see what it is he would be willing to end the war on.

Now, maybe their claims or what they want, their demands, will be unreasonable. We don’t know, but we have to bring them to the table. You’re not going to bring them to the table if you’re calling them names, if you’re being antagonistic. That’s just the President’s instincts from years and years and years of putting together deals as someone who’s in business. And that’s the only goal here is —

QUESTION: Well, let me just stop you there for one second. Why is it —

SECRETARY RUBIO: — to try to bring about an end to – a freer world – a war with no end in sight.

QUESTION: Why is it okay to call President Zelenskyy —

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, I’m sorry.

QUESTION: Why is it okay to call President Zelenskyy a dictator but not, as you say, call Vladimir Putin names?

SECRETARY RUBIO: We’ve spent three years calling Vladimir Putin names. That’s not the point now. The point that we’re at now is we’re trying to get the man to a table. The Russians – and I’ve said from the very beginning maybe they don’t want a deal either. We don’t know. But we haven’t talked to them in three years, but maybe they do.

The point is do we want to make – I would ask everybody this: If there are no negotiations, what is the alternative? Another four years of war, another three years of war, in which the United States and Europe continues to pour billions of dollars into a war in Ukraine? Is that the alternative?

I’ve asked every foreign minister I meet with, “Tell me your idea of how this turns out.” Most don’t have a plan. A few have said, well, let’s give them another year of fighting, a year from now, a year later, after another year of death, another year of destruction, then maybe Putin will be ready to negotiate at that point. That doesn’t sound like a good plan to me, and it certainly is not a plan the President is on board with.

QUESTION: It’s not just about getting people to the table. It’s about keeping agreements that are made. And that was one of the points that President Zelenskyy was making in the Oval Office on Friday is that Vladimir Putin has not kept the agreements that were made in the past. Wasn’t he right about that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: But what is – moving forward is the question, not the past. No one here is claiming Vladimir Putin is going to get the Nobel Peace Prize this year or that he should be the man of the year of the humanitarian association. What we’re arguing here is he has a very large country, they’re on full war footing, they’re cranking out weapons now at a war-footing pace, and we need to figure out is there a way to get them to stop the war. And the only way you’re going to do that is to get Russians engaged in negotiations – something the Europeans haven’t been able to do, the Biden administration wasn’t able to do or didn’t even try.

That’s the goal here. It’s that simple. Can we try to sit with them and figure out whether there’s any – what are the Russian demands? Under what conditions would the Russians be willing to stop this war? And as I said, we don’t know what those are because we haven’t talked to them in three years. That’s the singular goal here is to try to bring about an end to this conflict, and it begins by getting them to the table.

Ultimately, like any truce, like any peace agreement anywhere in the world, those things will have to be enforced. They’ll have to be enduring. There will have to be safeguards put in place. Everybody understands that. But it begins with the first step, and that is engaging them to see if it’s even possible. Because if it’s not possible, then what we’re looking at is a protracted stalemate with thousands of people dying, billions of dollars pouring in, and more death and destruction. And that’s not something the President wants to be a part of. He’s made it very clear.

QUESTION: Aren’t those talks feasible only if the United States is willing to also provide security guarantees to Ukraine? That was the point that President Zelenskyy was also making in the Oval Office.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the security guarantees – which I actually like to call deterrence – is all contingent upon there being a peace. Everybody is saying security guarantees to secure the peace. You first have to have a peace. We don’t even know if the peace is possible. And that – this was understood by the Ukrainians. It was explained to them repeatedly, and that is here’s our strategy, we’re trying to get Putin to a negotiating table. Don’t – let’s not – everyone knows the history here, the back and forth. We understand that. We all understand that.

But the question now is can we get them to a table to negotiate. That’s our goal. Don’t do anything to disrupt that. And that’s what Zelenskyy did, unfortunately, is he found every opportunity to try to Ukraine-splain on every issue, then he confronts the Vice President. When the Vice President says the goal here is diplomacy, he immediately jumps in and challenges the Vice President – well, what kind of diplomacy? So we all understand, okay, that Putin is not going to be an easy negotiator in this regard. We all get that. But we have to – we have to start the process to see if something is even possible.

And I honestly am puzzled. I just don’t understand. The Biden administration berated Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israelis, put all kinds of conditions and pressure on them to try to get a ceasefire. In this particular case, we’ve been nice by comparison. And all we’re trying to do here is figure out whether a peace is possible. All these other things that people keep bringing up, that’ll have to be a part of a negotiation. Right now there is no negotiation. Shouldn’t we at least try to see if there is a way to end this war in a way that’s acceptable to both sides and is enduring and sustainable? How is that a bad thing? I really am puzzled why anyone thinks that trying to be a peacemaker is a bad thing. It’s only a bad thing when it’s Donald Trump trying to do it, when it’s President Trump. It’s absurd to me.

QUESTION: Well, even some of your Republican allies are puzzled by the steps that President Trump has taken to placate Vladimir Putin. I want to bring up a post that Lisa Murkowski —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, which ones? What steps has the President taken to placate —

QUESTION: Let me show —

SECRETARY RUBIO: What steps has he taken?

QUESTION: Let me show you —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Are we arming the Russians?

QUESTION: — what Lisa Murkowski said and your —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Are we providing economic assistance to the Russians? Have we given the Russians $180 billion? What does that mean, “to placate”?

QUESTION: Let me ask you the question. This is Lisa Murkowski and here’s what she says: “This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense and shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine. I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin – a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world.” Those are not my words. That’s Senator Lisa Murkowski. What’s your response?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, yeah, we’re a free country. People have a right to these opinions. I would just say to you, “What have we done to placate the Russians?” The only thing we’ve done is say are you guys willing to talk about peace. I say the same point. We’re not giving – we haven’t given Russia $180 billion in weapons. We haven’t given them an Oval Office meeting.

QUESTION: You voted with North Korea and Russia and – you voted with North Korea and Russia and Belarus in the United Nations and against our Western allies.

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, let me tell you. All right, so you know what the – do you know what the United Nations resolution was? I’ll tell you if you want to hear what it was. It basically said this has been a horrible war, it’s time for it to end, the job of the UN is to bring about peace in the world. I thought that’s what the UN was created to do – to stop wars and to prevent them. And that’s what the resolution did.

Was it antagonistic towards the Russians? No. Back to the point. But it also didn’t praise the Russians. All it said is this is a bad war, it needs to end. And by the way, at the Security Council, which has not been widely reported, the first resolution on Ukraine that has passed the Security Council in three years passed this week because of the leadership of President Trump, and it’s a resolution that said bad war, needs to end, let’s bring the two sides together. That’s what the resolution is.

Again, what is the United Nations for? Isn’t it not a forum to promote peace in the world? And shouldn’t our president – shouldn’t we all be happy that we have a president who’s trying to stop wars and prevent them instead of start them? And I just don’t get it, I really don’t, other than the fact that it’s Donald J. Trump. If this was a Democrat that was doing this, everyone would be saying, well, he’s on his way to the Nobel Peace Prize. This is absurd. We are trying to end a war. You cannot end a war unless both sides come to the table, starting with the Russians, and that is the point the President has made. And we have to do whatever we can to try to bring them to the table to see if it’s even possible.

I’m not promising you it’s possible. I’m not telling you it’s 90 percent likely. I’m saying it’s 0 percent likely if we don’t get them to a negotiating table. And the sooner everyone grows up around here and figures out that this is a bad war that’s heading in a bad direction with death and destruction and all kinds of danger surrounding it that could spiral into a broader conflict, the sooner people grow up and realize that, I think the more progress we’re going to be able to make.

But the President is crystal clear. He campaigned on it and he’s going to govern on it, and that is he is going to be a president that tries to achieve peace. And he has been very clear this is a war that would have never happened had Donald Trump been in the White House, and it needs to end, and we’re going to do everything we can to end it in an enduring and sustainable and fair way.

QUESTION: You said in your confirmation hearings that Russia will have to make concessions to get a peace deal. What concessions do you expect them to make?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, why would I say that on a news broadcast? That’s what negotiations are about. That’s the problem here. Again, everybody is – this is not a messaging exercise, okay? This is can they get to a table, and then there’s hard work to be done. You’re absolutely right; I’m not telling you this is an easy peace deal. The Russians will give you a 30-minute lecture on the history of Ukraine and this, that, and the other. The Ukrainians have their own point of view. There’s no doubt about it.

But what peace deal in the history of the world has ever been easy? That’s the hard work of diplomacy. That’s exactly what the Vice President was alluding to. That’s what peace deals involve. You’ve covered this. You’ve been around for a long time. These conflicts are not easy to solve. We’re getting – but you can’t solve them at all if you don’t even have a process to try to solve it, if you don’t have the parties at the table.

And right now that’s been our goal. It’s been explained crystal clear to the Ukrainians and the Europeans and everyone else who wants to know for weeks now, for weeks now. And the only thing they were told was do not do things to derail it. And sadly, President Zelenskyy couldn’t contain himself in that regard. I hope this could all be reset. I hope he comes to the realization that we’re actually trying to help his country here before it suffers thousands of more casualties. Three million people have already left Ukraine. Are they ever going to be able to come back? He’s got Ukrainians being held prisoner, including children, on the Russian side. All this is – why is any of this good for anybody? And the argument that we’re going to just keep it going forever, that’s absurd.

So it’s time to bring the Russians to the table if it’s even possible and see if there is a way forward that ends this conflict and makes sure it never happens again. That’s our goal. That remains our goal. That’s the President’s goal.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thanks for your time this morning.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you.




Bulgaria National Day
03/03/2025


Bulgaria National Day
03/03/2025 12:01 AM EST



Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Bulgaria National Day
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Bulgaria National Day


Press Statement





March 3, 2025



On behalf of the United States of America, please accept my warmest congratulations on your Day of Liberation.

After 122 years of diplomatic relations, the friendship and close cooperation between our governments continues to grow. Constructing new, American-designed nuclear reactors will make Bulgaria’s energy supply more stable and secure and strengthen our bonds. Our defense cooperation, including Bulgaria’s recent investments to modernize its armed forces, enhances Bulgaria’s security and demonstrates its valuable contribution to NATO, bolstering our collective security.

We look forward to continuing our strong friendship and wish all Bulgarians the best as you celebrate your national day.




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Bulgaria Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State





Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy
03/03/2025

Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy
03/03/2025 11:26 AM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy


Readout





March 3, 2025



The following is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:


Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today to discuss the March 2 UK-convened leaders summit on Ukraine. The Secretary thanked Foreign Secretary Lammy for the UK’s role in encouraging Europe to provide for its own defense and push for peace in Ukraine. The Secretary confirmed the United States is ready to negotiate to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict and will continue working with the UK towards peace in Ukraine.



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Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State United Kingdom


Secretary Rubio’s Call with Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský
03/03/2025
Secretary Rubio’s Call with Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský
03/03/2025 12:50 PM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský


Readout





March 3, 2025



The following is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:


Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský today from Washington. Secretary Rubio emphasized President Trump’s determination to bring a durable end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lipavský reaffirmed the importance of U.S.-Czech relations across the globe, including our support of peace and stability, increasing defense spending for NATO, and buying U.S. technology to help meet Czechia’s energy needs.



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Bilateral Relations and Engagement Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Czech Republic Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State


United States Applauds Austria’s Repatriation of Women and Children from Northeast Syria
03/03/2025

United States Applauds Austria’s Repatriation of Women and Children from Northeast Syria
03/03/2025 12:56 PM EST



Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson
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United States Applauds Austria’s Repatriation of Women and Children from Northeast Syria


Press Statement





March 3, 2025



With U.S. assistance, Austria repatriated two women and three children from the Roj displaced persons camp in northeast Syria Saturday, March 1.


Approximately 23,000 individuals from more than 60 countries outside Syria remain in the al-Hol and Roj camps, most of whom are children under the age of 12. Of the total, approximately 3,800 are European nationals from over 35 different countries.


Repatriating nationals to their countries of origin is the only durable solution to the security and humanitarian challenges posed by al-Hol and Roj camps and detention centers in northeast Syria. Further, these actions reduce the risk of an ISIS resurgence in the region. The United States thanks Austria for working with us to repatriate its nationals, and thanks the local authorities in northeast Syria for its facilitation of these efforts.


The Trump Administration continues to encourage countries to repatriate their nationals from northeast Syria. As the dynamics in the region change, we cannot allow these challenges to fester.



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Ireland’s Tánaiste Simon Harris
03/04/2025
Secretary Rubio’s Call with Ireland’s Tánaiste Simon Harris
03/04/2025 04:42 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defense Simon Harris on a range of pressing global issues. Both leaders expressed eagerness to work together to address our shared interests. They discussed the U.S. priority to address the U.S.-Ireland trade imbalance and reaffirmed the importance of our partnership in addressing issues like Gaza, the conflict in Ukraine, and space cooperation. They also discussed energy security and cooperation with U.S. companies operating in Ireland, two areas of increasing interconnectedness between our two nations.




Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó
03/04/2025


Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó
03/04/2025 06:23 PM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó


Readout





March 4, 2025



The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:


Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today. The Secretary emphasized the urgency of ending the war in Ukraine and ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed strategic cooperation in the energy and defense sectors.



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Bilateral Relations and Engagement Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Hungary Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State


Secretary Rubio’s Call with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Kombos
03/05/2025

Secretary Rubio’s Call with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Kombos
03/05/2025 11:42 AM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Kombos


Readout





March 5, 2025



The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:


Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos today and expressed appreciation for Cyprus’ important role in the Eastern Mediterranean and its assistance with departures of American citizens from regional conflict zones. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Kombos also discussed regional energy projects, ending the conflict in Ukraine, and the importance of continued military cooperation.



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Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Houston, Texas
03/07/2025

Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Houston, Texas
03/07/2025 03:36 PM EST



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HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Houston, Texas
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Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Houston, Texas


Media Note





March 7, 2025



Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Laura Lochman will travel to Houston, Texas, March 10-13 for CERAWeek 2025, a key annual gathering of energy sector industry leadership and government officials.


At the conference, Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman will join a panel of experts on European energy security and national security. Additionally, the Acting Assistant Secretary will speak at a roundtable focused on critical minerals, trade, and industrial policy. During that roundtable, she will emphasize the importance of diversifying and reorienting global critical mineral supply chains, a necessity for energy technology, economic prosperity, and national security.


For further media information, please contact ENR-Press@state.gov



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with French Foreign Minister Barrot
03/07/2025

Secretary Rubio’s Call with French Foreign Minister Barrot
03/07/2025 04:35 PM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with French Foreign Minister Barrot


Readout





March 7, 2025



The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:


Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot about bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The Secretary emphasized President Trump’s determination to achieve, through negotiations, a just and lasting peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end.



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The Week at State: February 28 – March 6, 2025
03/07/2025

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February 28 – March 6

The President "returned to the White House with a clear mandate from the American people to renew the American Dream," underscored Secretary Rubio after President Trump's historic Congressional address.

Here's what happened at State this past week. ⤵️Secretary Rubio emphasized the Trump Administration's global leadership and diplomatic accomplishments in interviews on CNN, ABC, and Fox News.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held her first Department press briefing, highlighting key administration priorities.
Talks with Mexico focused on steps to strengthen border security, dismantle cartels, and halt illicit drug and weapon flows.


The Importance of Putting America First

Secretary Rubio participates in an interview with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins from studios at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 28, 2025. (State Dept/Freddie Everett)

"At this moment, as Secretary of State, my job working for the President is to deliver peace, to end this conflict and end this war," Secretary Rubio stated in his interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, while discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also addressed the conflict in his conversation with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week.

During his interview with Sean Hannity for Fox News, Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of President Trump's recent address to Congress, praising the President's leadership in navigating complex foreign policy challenges and delivering for the American people.




First Press Briefing Highlights Department Priorities

Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce holds the daily press briefing at the Department of State on March 6, 2025. (State Dept./Freddie Everett)

Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held her first Department press briefing, where she emphasized her commitment to speaking directly about U.S. policies under Secretary Rubio. She highlighted the Secretary's focus on strengthening America, combating transnational crime, and advancing peace.

Ahead of U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day on March 9, Spokesperson Bruce also addressed efforts to secure the release of hostages and wrongful detainees.


U.S. and Mexico Ramp Up Security Cooperation

Secretary Rubio hosts a U.S.-Mexico interagency meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente at the Department of State (State Dept./Freddie Everett)

"America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests," Secretary Rubio posted on X, reinforcing the administration's commitment to border enforcement.

On February 28, Secretary Rubio met with Mexico's high-level security delegation, led by Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente, to advance security cooperation on securing borders, dismantling cartels, and stopping illicit flows of drug and weapons. The Secretary thanked Mexico for sending their National Guard troops to the border and sending major cartel leaders to stand trial in the United States.

Following the meeting, the Department announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials — including immigration and customs officials, airport and port authority officials — believed to be responsible for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States.


Inspiring the Diplomats of Tomorrow

Secretary Rubio delivers keynote remarks at the 63rd Annual U.S. Senate Youth Program Luncheon at the Department of State, March 4, 2025 (State Dept./Freddie Everett)

On March 4, Secretary Rubio welcomed student leaders from across the United States to the Department of State as part of the 63rd Annual U.S. Senate Youth Program Luncheon.

For more than 60 years, this program has brought America's top high school scholars to Washington to explore paths to public service. Participants, or delegates as they're known within the prestigious weeklong program, also toured the diplomatic reception rooms as part of their memorable day learning about the work of the Department.


Promoting American Security on Land and Online

The State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced a new reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of malicious cyberactors Yin Kecheng and Zhou Shuai, both Chinese nationals residing in China. Authorized by the Secretary under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, this effort complements the latest Treasury sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control against Zhou and his company Shanghai Heiying Information Technology.

Additionally, the Department announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Canadian narcotics trafficker Ryan James Wedding, who is wanted for trafficking large quantities of drugs and involvement in violent crimes.

These combined actions represent government efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and keep America safe.


News You May Have MissedThe Department issues travel reminders for people on spring break and student visa holders and applicants that any violation can result in visa revocation, prosecution, and removal from the U.S.
The Department announced the designation of Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The Secretary expressed condolences for the loss of Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a Cuban American trailblazer and tireless freedom fighter.


Looking AheadMarch 9: U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day
March 12-14: G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting
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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha
03/07/2025


Secretary Rubio’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha
03/07/2025 09:10 PM EST



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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha


Readout
March 7, 2025

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the phone today. The Secretary underscored President Trump is determined to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace.

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Bilateral Relations and Engagement Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State Ukraine


Honoring U.S. Hostages and Wrongful Detainees
03/09/2025

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FROM THE DESK OF
Secretary Marco Rubio

U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE


Today, on the second annual U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, we are reminded of our ongoing commitment to prioritizing the freedom of U.S. nationals held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.


As we honor those who have returned, we remember those who will never come home, and reaffirm our commitment to bringing every single hostage and detainee back to their families. The United States will never stop working to end this practice and secure their freedom.

This past week, we hosted a flag raising ceremony at the State Department in honor of this important occasion. Senior Advisor Adam Boehler and FBI Director Kash Patel underscored the importance of this mission and the lives behind the cause. We proudly raised the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag — a powerful reminder of Americans in captivity — and the suffering by their families and loved ones.

President Trump’s strong leadership and coordination with partners has already led to great progress. In February, we welcomed the release of an American unjustly detained in Belarus and two political prisoners. I want to particularly thank the Lithuanian government for its cooperation and assistance and my team in Consular Affairs, the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs for all the hard work that went into securing these releases. We remain committed to the release of other U.S. citizens in Belarus and elsewhere.

After nearly 500 days of horrific captivity, Sagui Dekel Chen and two other hostages were released. While I am grateful that they are back home and safe with their families, we must remember all those who are not. Though 38 hostages have been freed through President Trump’s efforts in the Phase I ceasefire in Gaza, many more still remain, facing unspeakable horrors. It is critical that the ceasefire implementation continues and that all of the hostages are freed from Hamas captivity and safely returned to their loved ones.

President Trump also kept his promise to the Fogel family — after three and a half years of detention in Russia, Marc Fogel is finally home.

These releases are a testament to our unwavering commitment, and as the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag flies today we know that our work is not over.

To all Americans who remain unjustly held around the world: know that we are tirelessly working day and night to bring you home.

Sincerely,

Secretary Marco Rubio



Note to Readers

This email – “From the Secretary's Desk” – features my remarks and speeches on important current events.

Find all my speeches, remarks, and other press statements on state.gov.

Joint Statement on the United States-Ukraine Meeting in Jeddah
03/11/2025
Joint Statement on the United States-Ukraine Meeting in Jeddah
03/11/2025 02:47 PM EDT



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Joint Statement on the United States-Ukraine Meeting in Jeddah


Media Note
March 11, 2025

The following text was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Ukraine.

Begin Text:

Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the United States and Ukraine took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine. Representatives of both nations praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defense of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian people’s strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace. Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace. The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine. The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the above-mentioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Both delegations agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine’s long-term security. The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process. Lastly, both countries’ presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security.

End Text.

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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Conflicts, Wars, and Civil Unrest Foreign Policy Office of the Spokesperson Peace and Peace Processes Russia-Ukraine War Security and Defense


Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Remarks to the Press
03/11/2025


Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Remarks to the Press
03/11/2025 04:15 PM EDT


Μarco Rubio, Secretary of State

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Ritz Carlton Hotel

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, as has been clear from his first day as President, even as a candidate, President Trump is a President who wants to be a President of peace. His goal in this entire process has been to bring about an end to this war. It’s a terrible war, a costly war, a bloody war, and his number one interest is ending this war once and for all.

Today we’ve made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that’s enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation.

I want to personally thank – we both want to thank – the team in Saudi Arabia, his majesty, for hosting us, for making this possible. They’ve been instrumental in this process and we’re very grateful to them for hosting us here today. And hopefully we’ll – we’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court and – but again, the President’s objective here is, number one, above everything else, he wants the war to end. And I think today Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WALTZ: Well, just to add to the Secretary’s comments, the Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace, they share his determination to end the fighting, to end the killing, to end the tragic meat grinder of people and national treasure that’s happening on the front in Ukraine – number one. Number two, they made concrete steps and concrete proposals not only accepting our proposal for a full ceasefire – which you can see the details of which are in our joint statement that we released together – but we also got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, what type of guarantees they’re going to have for their long-term security and prosperity, but also really looking at what it’s going to take to finally end this – the horrific fighting.

The other piece that I just want to make very clear is President Trump started this diplomatic effort in the Oval Office talking to both leaders, both President Putin and President Zelenskyy, back to back. And now that shuttle diplomacy continues. We have a named delegation in terms of next steps from the Russian side. We have a named delegation in terms of next steps from the Ukrainian side. I will talk to my Russian counterpart in the coming days. Secretary Rubio will be with G7 foreign ministers in the next couple of days. We have the NATO secretary general in the White House on Thursday. And we’ll take – we’ll take the process forward from there. So as a result of that, and I think as a result of this positive step forward, the President has decided to lift the pause on aid and on our security assistance to Ukraine going forward. And that’s effective immediately.

MS BRUCE: All right. Your colleagues have chosen three questioners. Let’s start with Alex Marquardt of CNN.

QUESTION: Thank you. Several questions on the ceasefire. We understood that coming into this this was a Ukrainian proposal for a partial ceasefire. How did this become an American proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire? And to be clear, you’re talking about a complete ceasefire across the front line, not just the aerial and maritime ceasefire that the Ukrainians proposed? And then finally, how do you expect to take this to the Russians? Is it Mr. Witkoff, who we understand is heading to Moscow later this week? Will he deliver that to Putin? Will it be President Trump to President Putin? Will it be you and your counterparts? How will that actually happen, and when?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, on the first point of your question is yes. It’s – that’s the offer. The offer is to stop the shooting. The goal here is the only way out – to end this war is to negotiate out of it. There’s no military solution to this war. The solution to this war and the way to end it and to achieve the President’s objective of peace is to negotiate. But before you can negotiate you have to stop shooting at each other, and that’s what the President has wanted to see, and that’s what – that’s the commitment we got today from the Ukrainian side, their willingness to do that. Obviously, now that will be delivered to the Russians. It’ll be delivered to them directly through multiple channels, meaning not only will they obviously see it – we’ve – it’ll be communicated to them through our diplomatic channels, through conversations, and other methods. But they’ll obviously be well aware. And our hope is that the Russians will say yes, that they will also agree, so the shooting will stop, the killing will stop, the dying will stop, and the talks can begin about how to end this war permanently in a way that’s acceptable and enduring for both sides.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WALTZ: Look, there’s been all kinds of discussions in terms of different types of ceasefires. There was – there was the deal in terms of grain moving years ago, there’s been discussion of halting aerial attacks on each other’s infrastructure. The President has made it clear and certainly made it clear to us that all fighting needs to stop. And the Ukrainians have agreed to that proposal, they’re ready for peace, and now we’ll take that to the Russians and get their response.

MS BRUCE: All right, next. Jennifer Jacobs, CBS.

QUESTION: Great, hi.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hi.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WALTZ: Hey.

QUESTION: Are you expecting any goodwill gestures from Russia? Do you have a deadline in mind for when you’re hoping for them to reciprocate on that – those two things?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, on – we’re going to take the offer to them. We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table, Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no. I hope they’re going to say yes. And if they do, then I think we made great progress. If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here. But the President has been abundantly clear he wants the shooting to stop, he wants the warfare to stop, he wants the dying and the suffering to stop, and he believes – and rightfully so – that the only way to end this war is to negotiate an end to it. And we think that it’s always easier to negotiate an end to the war when people aren’t shooting at each other. That’s how the President believes. That’s what we hope to achieve. The Ukrainians today have expressed their willingness and readiness to do so immediately. We hope the Russians’ answer to that will also be yes.

QUESTION: But no deadline set, sir?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the deadline is we hope to do this as soon as possible. Every day that goes by that this war continues, people die, people are bombed, people are hurt on both sides of this conflict. The President wanted this war to end yesterday and the day before. The President has been clear he wants peace, and so we want to see it as soon as possible. So our hope is that the Russians will answer yes as quickly as possible so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations – not never-ending dialogue, talk forever, but real negotiations to end this conflict in a way that’s acceptable to both sides, sustainable, and that ensures the stability and security of Ukraine for the long term.

QUESTION: And then on the goodwill gestures, is there anything like the return of the stolen children or anything that you’re expecting in return for —

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WALTZ: Look, we’ve discussed a number of things – prisoner exchanges, folks that were detained, and what have you – but the fighting has to stop. I mean, that’s what we agreed today. And just think about it: We’ve gone from if the war is going to end to now how the war is going to end. And this was an important first step. And that was under President Trump’s leadership. He has literally moved the entire global conversation to where we had a very senior Ukrainian delegation with us today. We’ve had engagements with our Russian counterparts. And now it’s how the war is going to end, and that’s under President Trump’s leadership.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Just to answer your question one more time, the goal here is peace. That’s the President’s goal. The number – the best goodwill gesture the Russians can provide is to say yes – to say yes to the offer that the Ukrainians have made to stop the shooting, to stop the fighting, and get to the table. If they do that, that’s the best goodwill sign we could see. Obviously, as part of that negotiation as we’re talking about how to end this conflict, there will be a lot of issues to unravel – among them, not the least of which is the humanitarian concerns, the children, the prisoners of war, all the things that sadly come with these conflicts. But the number one goodwill gesture we could see from the Russians is to see the Ukrainian offer and reciprocate it with a yes.

MS BRUCE: All right. And next, for Reuters, Daphne Psaledakis.

QUESTION: Thank you so much. Could you clarify what security assistance will be resumed? Does this include the PDAs? And why wasn’t the minerals deal signed today? What are the outstanding issues there? And if I may, is the relationship with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy back on track? Do you back him?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, on – let me answer the second – or the third. You had two. And then I’ll let the security advisor talk about the defense and security assistance. On the second question – well, let me answer first on the minerals deal that – as part of our communication today. That is something that was negotiated through our Treasury and his counterpart on the Ukrainian side. And so the President – and you see that – expressed both presidents will instruct the appropriate members of our governments to bring to finality the signature of the deal and the signature of this agreement. So that was communicated today and that’s going to happen. That was not the subject of our talks today. I thought I made – I expressed that on our way in. Our – we were here in pursuit of peace. That doesn’t mean the minerals deal is not very important; it most certainly is. And we expressed that today in the statements we put out jointly, that the President – our respective presidents have instructed the appropriate members of their governments to bring this to finality and to conclusion.

The second part of your question was?

QUESTION: The – does the security assistance include the PDAs?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, there was one after that.

QUESTION: And then, is the Zelenskyy relationship back on track?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, what’s back on track here hopefully is peace. That’s what matters the most. I know everyone is looking for who likes – this is serious stuff, okay. We’re not – this is not Mean Girls. This is not some episode of some television show. This is very serious. People are going to – today, people will die in this war. They died yesterday. And sadly, unless there’s a ceasefire tonight, they’ll die tomorrow. The President wants that to stop. That’s what he’s interested in here. That’s why we came here. That’s why we’re grateful for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosting us here. And what we left – leave here with today is a commitment that the Ukrainians are ready to stop fighting. They’re ready to stop the shooting so that they can get to the table and bring about peace for their country and for the world.

On the security?

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WALTZ: Well, I mean, I just can’t echo enough President Trump is a president of peace. That’s what he is demanding, and he’s willing to take tough measures on all sides to drive that home. And in terms of the security assistance, it’s the current presidential drawdown authority. I’ll refer to the Defense Department on the eaches of what munition was where in the process, but it’s the current PDA that will proceed to the Ukrainians.

MS BRUCE: All right. Everyone, thank you.



Mecretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press
03/12/2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press
03/12/2025 12:01 PM EDT

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Shannon, Ireland

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, who’s got a question?

QUESTION: I do.

SECRETARY RUBIO: I knew you would have a question.

QUESTION: So – Michael Gordon, Wall Street Journal. Sir, the Russians are still making gains on the battlefield. There’s been no public response to the developments in Jeddah. Are you concerned they’re playing for time? Have you had any contact with them? What’s been their response officially and are they willing to accept the ceasefire unconditionally?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I mean, we don’t know the answer to the last question. That’s what we want to know, whether they’re prepared to do it unconditionally. We’ll have contact with them today. There’s already been contacts at different levels with counterparts, different members of the administration, and that’ll continue. But as far as the Russian reaction to it, that’s really the question here, and that is – this is a few hours old. We’re going to bring it to them directly. We’re going to say that Ukraine is prepared to stop all battlefield activity and begin the immediate process of negotiating an enduring end to the war, and we’ll see what their response is.

If their response is yes, then we know we’ve made real progress and there’s a real chance of peace. If their response is no, it’ll be highly unfortunate, and it’d make their intentions clear. So that’s what we’re hoping to hear from them, and obviously, as I said, this was not pre-arranged with them, so they’re – they’re probably processing the news the same as the rest of the world. And so we hope to have a positive answer from them. The ball is truly in their court.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary —

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Nike Ching with Voice of America. What would be a good G7 joint statement on Russia and on China?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think the perfect statement would be that the United States has done a good thing for the world in bringing this process forward, and now we all eagerly await and – the Russian response and urge them strongly to consider ending all hostilities so people will stop dying, so bullets will stop flying, and so a process can begin to find a permanent peace. I think the first step in all this is the acceptance that there is no military solution to this conflict. Neither side can militarily achieve their maximalist gains – their maximalist goals. I mean, they’re just not going to achieve them through the military side. The only way this conflict can end is through negotiation. That’s the only way you’re going to have peace is through negotiation.

And so we need to start that process. And it is hard to start a process when people are shooting at each other and people are dying. And so our hope is that we can stop that, all these hostilities, and get to a negotiating table where both sides – over some period of time with a lot of hard work – can find a mutually acceptable outcome that, in the case of Ukraine, obviously secures their long-term prosperity and security.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could you just update us on Mr. Witkoff’s plans for Moscow and whether he’ll be meeting with President Putin?

And then separately, if you wouldn’t mind elaborating on something that Mr. Waltz said yesterday about the specifics that you discussed with Ukrainians about what the end of the war would look like, you had mentioned we’re not going to get maps out and draw lines, but did you actually talk about territorial concessions?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we – we had conversations. As far as Steve’s trip, I’m not here to – I can’t – I’m not going to make any announcements about specific dates, times, or even confirm such a trip. Suffice it to say there is going to be multiple points of contact with the Russians to gauge are they willing to do this or not. And as far as the conversations that were yesterday, yeah – when you sit down with a counterpart like Ukraine, we’re not going to negotiate this publicly, we’re not going to actually put out there sort of what we talked about, because in any negotiation there’s certainly an element where you don’t want one side to be giving away all of this leverage from a public perspective. We had a broad conversation about what it would – but I think the bulk of our conversation was what a negotiation process would look like in terms of not the specific conditions, but rather the timing of it, sort of the steps they would like to see taken.

The Ukrainians made very clear that this isn’t just about ending a war. They need to get their prisoners of war back; they need to get the children back. They’d like to see an exchange of prisoners of war; they’d like to see their children back. So there’s all sorts of things tied to the, humanitarian assistance is important as well. There are areas of Ukraine that have been badly damaged that require immediate assistance. So these are the sorts of things that we talked about as being inclusive in the negotiation process.

So really the bulk of our conversation, when we got to that stage of it, was discussing the kinds of items that need to be on a negotiation agenda if and when we hopefully get there.

QUESTION: He also mentioned security guarantees, which is something that there has been some reluctance for the administration to elaborate on. Have – are you committing to security —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think the point – no – the point to understand is that we’re looking at securing their long-term – what we want to see – like any country in the world, Ukraine wants their long-term security. They want to make sure that this doesn’t happen again. We all do. What is the point of spending all this time to get a ceasefire hopefully and then a negotiated end to the war only to see it re-spark up again in about six years, four years, three years? No one’s – we’re not interested in that, and they certainly aren’t, either.

So I think the question really is more about a deterrence. Can Ukraine create a sufficient deterrent against future aggression, against future attack, against future invasion? Because every country in the world has a right to defend themselves, and no one can dispute that. So that will most certainly have to be part of the conversation. But again, I don’t think there’s – there isn’t a peace to secure until you have a peace.

QUESTION: Not just – not —

SECRETARY RUBIO: There’s no way to have an enduring peace without the deterrence piece being a part of it.

QUESTION: Can I just follow up on that particular point?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes.

QUESTION: Because the joint statement talks about European partners being involved in the peace process, but that’s only attributed to the Ukrainian delegation. There doesn’t appear to be U.S. support for that line —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think what it says in the statement is that they raised the need for the Europeans. But I have already said publicly the Europeans have issued a series of sanctions against the Russian Federation, and I would imagine that in any negotiation – if we get there, hopefully – with the Russians that they will raise these European – the European sanctions that have been imposed upon them. So I think that the issue of European sanctions are going to be on the table —

QUESTION: But it —

SECRETARY RUBIO: — not to mention what happens with the frozen assets and the like. And so I think it’s self-evident that for there to be a peace in Ukraine, at the end of that process there is going to have to be some decision by the Europeans about what they are going to do with these sanctions and so forth. And so that’s why I think they have to be necessarily involved in this regard. Now, whether they’re involved at the front end of it or at the back end of it, it’ll have to play itself out. And then obviously there is also all sorts of security promises that European countries have made to Ukraine, that that will also be, I imagine, a part of this conversation as we move forward.

QUESTION: But —

SECRETARY RUBIO: So we don’t disagree with that statement. I think the statement just reflects that they raised it.

QUESTION: But do you back European peacekeepers in Ukraine, which is something Russia has categorically —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we’ll see. I mean, there’s different ways to – there’s different ways to construct a deterrent on the ground that prevents another war from starting in the future. We’re not going to go in with any sort of preconceived notion. The bottom line is it needs to be something that makes Ukraine feel as if they can deter and prevent a future invasion. How that looks and how that’s put together, that’s what we’re going to be talking about, if we can get to that stage.

Again, right now we’re just trying to get to the stage where there’s actual diplomacy happening. Here’s what we’d like the world to look like in a few days: neither side is shooting at each other, not rockets, not missiles, not bullets, nothing, not artillery. The shooting stops, the fighting stops, and the talking starts. That’s what we want to see. What happens during that talking and how that evolves, I think we’re going to have to be flexible and nimble and creative and patient and work hard at it and hopefully turn it into something that’s concrete.

You’ve covered – many of you have covered foreign policy for years. That’s how these things happen, and they’re not easy, and sometimes they’re difficult to predict which way they’re going to go in terms of the specifics of it. But we just want to get to that stage. That would be, for lack of a better term, a good problem to have, to have to figure out how to negotiate a peace because we’re actually negotiating a peace while the shooting has stopped.

QUESTION: Is the mineral deal essentially the security guarantee that you guys envisioned?

And then a second question is: President Trump appealed to a lot of Americans during his campaign on free speech arguments and not suppressing speech, especially from the government, but your revocation of the green card to many is seen as one of the most anti-speech actions a secretary can take with his powers. How do you respond?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, the first question was again the —

QUESTION: Is the minerals deal a version of the security guarantee?

SECRETARY RUBIO: The minerals deal, yeah. Well, I think that a minerals deal is something that I think is beneficial for both countries. Certainly one of the things that provides for Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security is vibrant economic growth and development. If their GDP is – begins to grow and – that gives them a tremendous amount of leverage and power and the ability to fund their own defenses. So I think certainly any economic development for Ukraine is positive for their own future.

Obviously if the United States has a vested economic interest somewhere, we’re tied to them on an economic front, we’re in partnership with them on something, we will have an interest in the future of Ukraine as well. I wouldn’t couch it as a security guarantee, but certainly if the United States has a vested economic interest that’s generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, we’d have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened.

On your first point, when you enter the – this is an important point, and I’m glad you asked this question. When you come to the United States as a visitor – which is what a visa is, which is how this individual entered this country, on a visitor’s visa, okay – you are here as a visitor. We can deny you that visa. We can deny you that – if you tell us when you apply, “Hi, I’m trying to get into the United States on a student visa, I am a big supporter of Hamas, a murderous, barbaric group that kidnaps children, that rapes teenage girls, that takes hostages, that allows them to die in captivity, that returns more bodies than live hostages” – if you tell us that you are in favor of a group like this, and if you tell us when you apply for your visa, “And by the way, I intend to come to your country as a student and rile up all kinds of anti-Jewish student, anti-Semitic activities, I intend to shut down your universities” – if you told us all these things when you applied for a visa, we would deny your visa. I hope we would. If you actually end up doing that once you’re in this country on such a visa, we will revoke it. And if you end up having a green card – not citizenship but a green card – as a result of that visa while you’re here and those activities, we’re going to kick you out. It’s as simple as that.

This is not about free speech. This is about people that don’t have a right to be in the United States to begin with. No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card, by the way. So when you apply for a student visa or any visa to enter the United States, we have a right to deny you for virtually any reason, but I think being a supporter of Hamas and coming into our universities and turning them upside down and being complicit in what are clearly crimes of vandalization, complicit in shutting down learning institutions – there are kids at these schools that can’t go to class. You pay all this money to these high-priced schools that are supposed to be of great esteem and you can’t even go to class, you’re afraid to go to class because these lunatics are running around with covers on their face, screaming terrifying things. If you told us that’s what you intended to do when you came to America, we would have never let you in. And if you do it once you get in, we’re going to revoke it and kick you out.

QUESTION: Can I ask you about the Canada trip coming up? The President has taunted, if you will, Canada, calling it the 51st state, calling Prime Minister Trudeau the governor —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, he said it should become the 51st state from an economic standpoint. He says if they became the 51st state, we wouldn’t have to worry about the border and fentanyl coming across because now we would be able to manage that. He’s made an argument that it’s their interest to do so. Obviously the Canadians don’t agree, apparently, but —

QUESTION: Do you agree with it? Should there be – are you going to discuss that, becoming the 51st —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that’s not what we’re going to discuss at the G7, and that’s not what we’re going to be discussing in our trip here. So it – they are the host nation, and I – I mean, we have a lot of other things we work on together. We defend North America through NORAD and the airspace of our continent together, so – not to mention the issues of Ukraine and other commonalities. So we’re going to be focused in the G7 on all of those things. That’s what the meeting is about. It is not a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada.

QUESTION: But more broadly —

QUESTION: But are you concerned at all about the reception that you might be getting, particularly at the event?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I don’t know, should I be? What do you know that I don’t know?

QUESTION: They’re unhappy.

QUESTION: I don’t know, you’ve got the tariffs in the last 12 hours, you’ve just seen this escalating trade war – not just with Canada but, with the exception of Japan, all the other members of the G7.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so what’s your point?

QUESTION: Well —

QUESTION: Are you worried about alienating the Canadians, that they wouldn’t work with the United States?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, they’ve invited us to come. We intend to go. The alternative is to not go. I think that would actually make things worse, not better. So – it’s a G7 summit.

QUESTION: One alternative could be not to —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Huh?

QUESTION: The alternative could be not to have tariffs or not to have the language that the President —

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, those are policy decisions. And so at the end of the day, the President’s made those decisions. He’s explained why. It’s not just against Canada, it’s not just against Mexico, it’s not just against G7 countries. He’s imposed steel and aluminum tariffs now on virtually the entire world, and the reason why is not to punish those countries; it’s because he has outlined the need to develop a domestic capability. If you don’t have steel and aluminum, you can’t build warships, you can’t build airplanes, and you are not an industrial economy. There are things we have to be able to protect and there’s a lot of unfair trade practices, a lot of countries out there who subsidize their industries so that they can gain global market share, so they subsidize the industries, they’re operating at a loss. Meanwhile, our industries are trying to compete fairly, and that’s why you don’t have steel plants and that’s why you can’t produce the aluminum. And that really threatens our national security in the long term.

So these are national security concerns when it comes to steel and aluminum and some of these other products. But ultimately the President feels strongly – and I personally agree – that we have made some decisions when it comes to trade policies that have led to the de-industrialization of America and have left us deeply vulnerable to any sort of interruptions in global supplies and/or it being used to extort us, not to mention our inability to produce things that we need for our own economy and for our own defense.

So that’s what those policies are about. Every country in the world we expect will act in their national interest. The United States forgot that. President Trump is reminding us of that and getting us back to that, and I think it is quite possible that we could do these things and at the same time deal in a constructive way with our allies and friends and partners on all the other issues that we work together on. And that’s what I expect out of the G7 and Canada.

QUESTION: Can I just ask on Russia? Did you have – or Waltz – have any contact with Zelenskyy while you were in Saudi Arabia? And then —

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I didn’t. I don’t believe Mr. Waltz did either, but I did not. But that was the team he selected, and it was appropriate. It was his closest advisor, it was their foreign minister, it was their head of security. So we felt that that was the counterparts they sent and to deal with us, and that’s obviously pretty common in these sorts of things. Generally the heads of state meet heads of state and appropriate counterparts meet others. He – I imagine he had to get back, and he’s – he – the president of a wartime country, so he’s – but we did not have any contact with him there. But I wouldn’t read – read anything into it other than he selected his team for these talks and the President selected his, so —

QUESTION: And was there any discussion with the Ukrainians about how a ceasefire, if Russia agrees, would be enforced? How would the U.S. ensure parties —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, well, the interesting thing about modern warfare is there – it’s easier than ever to monitor and – simply because there’s so many eyes on the ground and there’s also all sorts of overhead commercial satellite and the like. It would be pretty hard to hide drone strikes, it would be hard to hide missile strikes, ballistic strikes, artillery. So we feel like that is something that could be monitored. Obviously, if in fact the Russians say yes – let’s hope they say yes. If they say yes, one of the things we’ll have to determine is who do both sides trust to be on the ground to sort of monitor some of the small arms fires and exchanges that could happen. But those are practices that have become common in these, and I don’t think that would be difficult to set up. We didn’t get into specifics, but obviously the need to monitor a ceasefire is clear to everyone.

QUESTION: Sir, just a quick follow-up on this question.

QUESTION: Can I get a last question? Last question?

MS BRUCE: One more question. One more. This is it.

QUESTION: The —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, because we’re fueling up and have to get back on the plane.

MS BRUCE: Right.

QUESTION: Last question, sir.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, yeah.

QUESTION: The – you haven’t – this administration has not hesitated to put a lot of pressure on Ukraine. You reduced their intelligence support in the middle of a shooting war, you temporarily cut off their arms, criticized them publicly – not you, but leadership in public. Are you truly prepared to apply pressure on Russia should it be recalcitrant and not agree to the terms of the ceasefire? There’s no been no concrete action that this administration has taken to punish Russia since it’s come to office.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, a couple points. To be clear, as far as I am aware, the United States has not provided armaments to Russia. The United States is not providing assistance to Russia. Every single sanction that has been imposed on Russia remains in place. Every single sanction the President inherited has – remains in place.

QUESTION: Trump inherited, previous administration.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Right, but – well, I mean, they’re pretty sanctioned up. I mean, there’s a lot of sanctions on already. So my point being is that we’ve – there’s been no steps taken to relieve any of these things. These things continue to be in place. But we don’t think it’s constructive for me to stand here today and begin to issue threats about what we’re going to do if Russia says no. Let’s hope they say yes.

At the end, let’s understand. I remind everybody and bring you back to the point: The President’s desire here is to bring about a lasting and enduring peace in Ukraine. He wants the shooting and the fighting to stop – not just for 30 days, not just for 60 days, but permanently. To do that, both sides have to come to the table. We are happy – we are happy that the Ukrainians have agreed to do so. Now it is up to Russia to say yes. If Russia says yes, that’s very good news, and we will begin that process and do everything we can to move that process forward. If they say no, then obviously we’ll have to examine everything and sort of figure out where we stand in the world and what their true intentions are. I think it’ll be – if they say no, it’ll tell us a lot about what their goals are and what their mindset is.

But I don’t want to go into that before they’ve even answered us by issuing statements that are abrasive in any way. Our hope is that – when we met with them last, they expressed a willingness under the right conditions, without elaborating on the right conditions, to bring an end to this conflict. That was our question when we met with them. I think I shared it with you that were on our trip. The point of meeting with them was to find out is this a war they wanted to end or is this a war they just wanted to continue in perpetuity until they achieved whatever goals they have in mind, and they expressed a willingness, under the right circumstances, which they did not define, to bring an end to this conflict.

So we have Ukraine ready to come to the table. Now we need to get Russia to come to the table. If they do and the shooting stops, I think that’s a very good day in the world. Obviously no one here is pretending that that negotiation’s going to be easy or fast or simple, but at least we’ve gotten to that point. If their answer is no, then obviously we’ll have to deal with that and we’ll have to at that point make decisions on that basis. We’re not there yet. Hopefully the answer is yes.

MS BRUCE: Thank you, everyone.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, thanks, guys.

The Anniversary of the Election of His Holiness Pope Francis
03/13/2025

The Anniversary of the Election of His Holiness Pope Francis
03/13/2025 12:02 AM EDT

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…The Anniversary of the Election of His Holiness Pope Francis
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The Anniversary of the Election of His Holiness Pope Francis

Press Statement
March 13, 2025



On behalf of the people of the United States of America, and during this Jubilee Holy Year, I extend my best wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis on the twelfth anniversary of his election. The United States values its enduring relationship with the Holy See, which is grounded in our shared commitment to advance peace across the globe, promote interreligious dialogue, and protect religious freedom.


Pope Francis is in the hearts and prayers of my family and of the more than 50 million Catholics in the United States, as we hope for his continued and swift recovery.


On this Jubilee, with its message of hope and unity, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a peaceful celebration.



Tags
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Holy See Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State


Time for Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
03/14/2025

Time for Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
03/14/2025 08:37 AM EDT

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

The United States commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a historic peace treaty. This is an opportunity for both countries to turn the page on a decades old conflict in line with President Trump’s vision for a more peaceful world. Now is the time to commit to peace, sign and ratify the treaty, and usher in a new era of prosperity for the people of the South Caucasus.




Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Tajani
03/14/2025

Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Tajani
03/14/2025 10:22 AM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani today on the margins of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of the strong and enduring U.S.-Italy partnership. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Tajani discussed the need to increase burden sharing among all NATO Allies and end the Russia-Ukraine war. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to tackling a range of global challenges, including balancing trade relationships, countering authoritarianism in Venezuela, and stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix
03/14/2025


Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix
03/14/2025 11:36 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement was released by the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.

Begin Text:

Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security

G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.

They welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the U.S. and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. G7 members applauded Ukraine’s commitment to an immediate ceasefire, which is an essential step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations.

G7 members called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully. They discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means. This includes the use of extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilized Russian Sovereign Assets. G7 members underlined the importance of confidence-building measures under a ceasefire including the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children.

They emphasized that any ceasefire must be respected and underscored the need for robust and credible security arrangements to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression. They stated that they will continue to coordinate economic and humanitarian support to promote the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will take place in Rome on July 10-11, 2025.

G7 members condemned the provision to Russia of military assistance by DPRK and Iran, and the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a decisive enabler of Russia’s war and of the reconstitution of Russia’s armed forces. They reiterated their intention to continue to take action against such third countries.

They expressed alarm about the impacts of the war, especially on civilians and on civilian infrastructure. They discussed the importance of accountability and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to achieve a durable peace and to ensure that Ukraine remains democratic, free, strong and prosperous.

Regional peace and stability in the Middle East 

G7 members called for the release of all hostages and for the remains held by Hamas in Gaza to be returned to their loved ones. They reaffirmed their support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire. They underscored the imperative of a political horizon for the Palestinian people, achieved through a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets the legitimate needs and aspirations of both peoples and advances comprehensive Middle East peace, stability and prosperity. They noted serious concern over the growing tensions and hostilities in the West Bank and calls for de-escalation.

They recognized Israel’s inherent right to defend itself consistent with international law. They unequivocally condemned Hamas, including for its brutal and unjustified terror attacks on October 7, 2023, and the harm inflicted on the hostages during their captivity and the violation of their dignity through the use of ‘handover ceremonies’ during their release. They reiterated that Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future and must never again be a threat to Israel. They affirmed their readiness to engage with Arab partners on their proposals to chart a way forward on reconstruction in Gaza and build a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

G7 members expressed their support for the people of Syria and Lebanon, as both countries work towards peaceful and stable political futures. At this critical juncture, they reiterated the importance of Syria and Lebanon sovereignty and territorial integrity. They called unequivocally for the rejection of terrorism in Syria. They condemned strongly the recent escalation of violence in the coastal regions of Syria, and called for the protection of civilians and for perpetrators of atrocities to be held accountable. They stressed the critical importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led political process. They welcomed the commitment by the Syrian interim government to work with the OPCW in eliminating all remaining chemical weapons.

They stressed that Iran is the principal source of regional instability and must never be allowed to develop and acquire a nuclear weapon. They emphasized that Iran must now change course, de-escalate and choose diplomacy. They underscored the threat of Iran’s growing use of arbitrary detention and foreign assassination attempts as a tool of coercion.

Cooperation to increase security and resilience across the Indo-Pacific 

G7 members reiterated their commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific, based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights.

They remain seriously concerned by the situations in the East China Sea as well as the South China Sea and continue to oppose strongly unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion. They expressed concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, in violation of international law. G7 members emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and reiterated their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.

They remain concerned with China’s military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in China’s nuclear weapons arsenal. They called on China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency.

G7 members emphasized that China should not conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions.

They expressed concerns about China’s non-market policies and practices that are leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortions. G7 members further called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. They reiterated that they are not trying to harm China or thwart its economic growth, indeed a growing China that plays by international rules and norms would be of global interest.

G7 members demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction as well as ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. They expressed their serious concerns over and the need to address together the DPRK’s cryptocurrency thefts. They called on DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.

They denounced the brutal repression of the people of Myanmar by the military regime and called for an end to all violence and for unhindered humanitarian access.

Building stability and resilience in Haiti and Venezuela

G7 members strongly denounced the ongoing horrifying violence that continues to be perpetrated by gangs in Haiti in their efforts to seize control of the government. They reaffirmed their commitment to helping the Haitian people restore democracy, security and stability, including through support to the Haitian National Police and Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and an increased role for the UN. They expressed support for Haitian authorities’ efforts to create a specialized anti-corruption jurisdiction that complies with the highest international standards.

They reiterated their call for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela in line with the aspirations of the Venezuelan people who peacefully voted on July 28, 2024, for change, the cessation of repression and arbitrary or unjust detentions of peaceful protestors including youth by Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as well as the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners. They also agreed Venezuelan naval vessels threatening Guyana’s commercial vessels is unacceptable and an infringement of Guyana’s internationally recognized sovereign rights.  They reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations as an enduring value.

Supporting lasting peace in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

G7 members unequivocally denounced the ongoing fighting and atrocities in Sudan, including sexual violence against women and girls, which have led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and the spread of famine. They called for the warring parties to protect civilians, cease hostilities, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and urged external actors to end their support fueling the conflict.

They condemned the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resulting violence, displacement and grave human rights and international humanitarian law violations. This offensive constitutes a flagrant disregard of the territorial integrity of the DRC. They reiterated their call for M23 and the Rwanda Defense Force to withdraw from all controlled areas. They urged all parties to support the mediation led by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, to promote accountability for human rights abuses by all armed actors, including M23 and the FDLR, and to commit to a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict, including the meaningful participation of women and youth.

Strengthening sanctions and countering hybrid warfare and sabotage

G7 members welcomed efforts to strengthen the Sanctions Working Group focused on listings and enforcement, and discussions on the establishment of a Hybrid Warfare and Sabotage Working Group, and of a Latin America Working Group.

End Text.

The Week at State: March 7 – March 13, 2025
03/14/2025

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March 7 – March 13

From pursuing a ceasefire in Ukraine to strengthening alliances at the G7, U.S. leadership remains focused on keeping America safe, strong, and prosperous.

Here's what happened at State this past week. ⤵️The U.S. and Ukraine took strong steps toward restoring a durable peace.
Secretary Rubio advanced our America First policy at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Quebec, Canada.
We shared some tips on staying safe when going abroad for spring break.


Key Steps Toward Lasting Peace in Ukraine

Secretary Marco Rubio, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov attend a meeting on March 11, 2025. (State Dept/Freddie Everett)

On March 11, U.S. and Ukrainian officials came to an agreement toward restoring a durable peace after a productive meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia. Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire and as a result, the U.S. agreed to immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume assistance to Ukraine, Secretary Rubio shared on X.

As the Secretary stated in his remarks to the press with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, "The number one goodwill gesture we could see from the Russians is to see the Ukrainian offer and reciprocate it with a yes." He also noted that the ball is now in Russia's court in taking the next steps to finding an enduring peace.


Putting America First at the G7 Ministers' Meeting

Secretary Rubio attends the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Canada, March 12-14, 2025. (State Dept./Freddie Everett)

After stopping to speak with the press in Ireland, Secretary Rubio continued his travels to Quebec for the first G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting since Canada assumed the presidency this year.

Discussions ranged from security in the Indo-Pacific to conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, reinforcing the Trump Administration's America First foreign policy — emphasizing cooperation with allies while keeping U.S. priorities front and center. Strong efforts to curb illicit drug flows, counter foreign influence in the Western Hemisphere, and promote fair trade were also main focal points.


Enjoy Your Spring Break Adventures — Safely!

As spring break approaches for students across America, the Bureau of Consular Affairs shared tips and resources on staying safe abroad, including:What to do if your passport is lost or stolen
The latest updates for travelers to Mexico
Laws and customs for any destination
What countries to avoid when making plans
Making sure travel documents are up to date

For even more information and travel resources, visit travel.state.gov and follow Consular Affairs on their X, Facebook or Instagram accounts.


Supporting a Unified Syria

On March 11, Secretary Rubio issued a statement welcoming the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Unifying northeast Syria promotes steps toward a political transition "as the best path to avoid further conflict," per the Secretary's post on X.

While this agreement marks progress, there is still more to be done. The U.S. condemned the radical Islamist terrorists who murdered people in western Syria in recent days, offering condolences to the victims and their families. The Secretary reaffirmed that Syria's interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres against religious and ethnic minorities accountable.


News You May Have MissedPresident Trump hosted the first-ever White House Digital Asset Summit, focused on the future of cryptocurrency in the U.S.
We marked the second annual U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day on March 9, remembering Americans who remain unjustly held around the world.
President Trump hosted the Taoiseach of Ireland for a St. Patrick's Day Reception at the White House.
The Secretary announced new sanctions on the Foxtrot Network for trafficking, violence, and attacks on Israeli targets with Iranian support.
Secretary Rubio shared how tariffs on steel and aluminum are about protecting national security and rebuilding our domestic capability.


Looking AheadMarch 20: Nowruz
April 3-4: NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting
April 13: World Expo 2025 begins in Osaka, Japan
Note to Our Readers

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