The US has outlined two stages for ending the war in Ukraine and the terms of a peace agreement.

According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this involves a ceasefire followed by a transition to negotiations.

“Nobody is saying that the second part will be easy, but we can’t even begin until we complete the first,” Rubio stated.

He explained that negotiating a peaceful settlement is challenging while hostilities are ongoing, which is why the US president is advocating for a ceasefire.

“Then we will move to the second phase – negotiations on something more stable and permanent. It will be difficult. It will require significant effort and concessions from both sides, but it must happen,” the secretary of state emphasized.

Last week, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that discussions are in progress regarding the future status of Ukraine, its territories, and security guarantees. A potential agreement could encompass access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources, the continued presence of US forces, possible participation by European troops, and Kyiv’s renouncement of NATO membership. Regions with a high concentration of ethnic Russians, such as Donbas, might fall under Russian control in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine.