U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on OAN that Russia has expressed interest in reaching a limited ceasefire with Ukraine, which should include a halt to mutual strikes on energy infrastructure. According to him, both sides have shown readiness for such arrangements, although, as Rubio himself acknowledged, "it will not be easy to reach an agreement." The statement came the day after a direct contact between the heads of diplomacy of Moscow and Washington in New York.
Context: Two Days of a Diplomatic Marathon in New York
Rubio's statement was a logical continuation of a two-day series of meetings on the sidelines of the session in New York. On September 22, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks during which, among other things, the terms of a possible energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow were discussed. On September 23, a meeting took place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after which the American diplomat made his public comments.
The Substance of Rubio's Statement
"Ukraine and the Russian Federation are interested in reaching a certain limited ceasefire that would include energy issues," RBC-Ukraine quotes Rubio. The Secretary of State emphasized that this is precisely a partial ceasefire, not a comprehensive peace, and that the focus of the arrangements will be on protecting energy infrastructure from mutual strikes. In Rubio's assessment, even a ceasefire limited in scale could partly reduce the global tension associated with the conflict.
Kyiv's Position: Zelenskyy's Public Readiness
Separately, Rubio noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously publicly spoken about Kyiv's readiness for such arrangements. Thus, Washington is noting a convergence of signals from both sides of the conflict: Moscow, according to the American Secretary of State, is demonstrating interest in a partial ceasefire, while Kyiv — in its institutionalization along the energy track. In Rubio's logic, this creates a basis for negotiations, even if their outcome remains uncertain.
Prospects and Limitations
Despite the positive rhetoric, Rubio directly acknowledged the difficulty of the task: "it will not be easy to reach an agreement." The limited nature of the proposed ceasefire — energy only — indicates that the sides are not yet ready to discuss broader questions of ending hostilities. Nevertheless, as the Secretary of State emphasizes, even a narrowly focused arrangement could reduce global tension and set a precedent for further steps. The further dynamics will depend on whether the diplomats of both sides can transform public signals into specific working formulations.
