US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says ending the war through negotiations is out of reach for now, while Ukraine's team meets Witkoff and Kushner in the US on 9 October.
On 8 October, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Greek outlet Kathimerini that ending the war through negotiations is currently unattainable. According to him, russia wants full control of Donetsk Oblast without a fight, which Kyiv rejects. Kyiv Independent and Ukrinform both reported his remarks.
Ukraine proposes a ceasefire along the current front line. The Kremlin rejects a truce and demands that Kyiv hand over the part of Donbas it still holds. On 7 October, russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said no US-mediated talks are currently planned. In early September, Trump's envoys visited Kyiv and Moscow but secured only an agreement in principle on a trilateral meeting, which now looks uncertain. Volunteers Support Ukraine follows diplomatic developments closely, because they decide when people can return to a safer life.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is not in a diplomatic impasse and called for more sanctions on russia. On 9 October the Ukrainian negotiating team meets Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the United States. According to the president, the delegation includes Budanov, Kyslytsya, Arakhamia and Umerov. Topics include bringing financial assistance closer and strengthening air defence; Kyiv Independent adds that proposals for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire will be discussed. Zelensky hopes a European team will join both groups and expects the delegation back in Kyiv on Monday morning.
The president also hinted at possible closed-door US-russia economic talks but declined to give details. Volunteers Support Ukraine continues to help people affected by the war in whatever way the available resources allow, and hopes for diplomatic steps that bring peace closer.
