The United States is holding off on imposing new sanctions against Russia, believing such measures could derail diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday. In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Rubio emphasized Washington’s focus on negotiations, calling the coming week “very critical” for determining whether a breakthrough is possible.
Rubio argued that additional sanctions now would “doom [the U.S.] to another two years of war,” stating the Biden administration wants to give diplomacy a chance before escalating economic pressure. He positioned the U.S. as the sole mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, asserting only President Donald Trump has the leverage to bring both sides to the table.
The cautious approach follows Trump’s recent threat of new sanctions, accusing Russia of prolonging hostilities with missile strikes he called unjustified. Moscow maintains it only targets military infrastructure and has repeatedly denied attacking civilians. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia remains open to unconditional talks, a stance reiterated during Friday’s meeting between Putin and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially banned negotiations with Putin’s government in 2022, he has since softened his position, recently demanding only an unconditional ceasefire as a precondition for talks. This shift comes as U.S. officials privately question whether continued involvement in stalled negotiations remains productive.
“We’re close, but we’re not close enough,” Rubio said, acknowledging reasons for both hope and realism. The administration faces mounting pressure to either secure tangible progress or reconsider its mediation role, with Rubio warning against investing time in “something that’s not going to get us there.”
The diplomatic maneuvering occurs against a backdrop of intensified fighting, with Russia’s recent strikes and Ukraine’s insistence on preconditions testing the limits of U.S.-led peace efforts. As Washington weighs next steps, the coming days may determine whether negotiations advance or give way to renewed escalation.
