Marco Rubio says on Russia-Ukraine peace: "You have to talk to them"
“For example, how are you going to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine if you don’t talk to Russia and Ukraine? You have to talk to them, right?”
Reported October 20, 2026 by newrepublic.com. Checked word for word against that report.
In a press briefing, Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s intention to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying critics should adopt a more mature view of foreign policy. Rubio argued that communication among the three nuclear‑armed nations is routine and essential, noting that any settlement of the Russia‑Ukraine conflict would require dialogue with both sides. He added that discussions on issues such as arms control could benefit global security. The comments came after Trump expressed willingness to convene a triangular meeting on nuclear weapons and denuclearization, following earlier ceremonial welcomes for Putin and Xi that drew criticism for their pageantry.
- newrepublic.com ↗︎20 OCT 2026