"We have to decide if we want to continue." The head of the State Department called the next week “critical” for negotiations on the Russian-Ukrainian war

The United States does not impose new sanctions against Russia, because they hope to complete the Russian-Ukrainian war diplomatic means, said the Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio in an interview with NBC News, published on April 27.

“Because we still hope that the efforts [at the end of the war] will work in a diplomatic vein, and we will be able to bring the positions of two sides closer. As soon as you begin to do this [impose sanctions], you will move back [from the end of the war]. You doom yourself to another two years of the war, and we do not want this to happen, ”Rubio said in response to the corresponding question.

Speaking about the possible timing of the achievement of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the head of the State Department noted that it was “stupid” to establish some specific date. However, according to him, the next week - from April 28 to May 4 - will have a “critically important” meaning.

“It will be a critical week, this week will be very important. This week we have to decide whether we want to continue to participate in this matter or it is time to concentrate on others, no less, and in some cases more important issues. There are reasons to be optimists, but, of course, there are reasons to be realistic. We are close, but not enough, ”said the Secretary of State.

• The United States has been conducting separate negotiations with Russia and Ukraine on the end of the war since mid -February, but have not yet been able to achieve the consent of the parties to the full and long -term ceasefire.
• US President Donald Trump and his administration officials threatened that if the parties did not come to an agreement in the near future, Washington would impose sanctions against Russia and get out of negotiations.
• On April 30, Trump will celebrate 100 days of his second presidential term. At the same time, during the election campaign, he stated that he would complete the Russian-Ukrainian war in 24 hours if he became president of the United States.