Hope for Peace: New Talks Between the US and Italy
On Friday, US Vice President Jay D. Vance expressed optimistic hopes regarding the potential to end the "very brutal war" between Russia and Ukraine.
Source: Vance made this statement ahead of a bilateral meeting with Italy's Prime Minister in Rome, as reported by Reuters; "European Truth".
Direct quote: "I want to update the Prime Minister on some developments in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine... even in the last 24 hours, we believe there have been some positive signs that we can share.
As the negotiations continue, I won’t get ahead of them, but we are hopeful and expect that we can bring this war to an end, this extremely brutal war".
Details: Vance and Giorgia Meloni are meeting less than 24 hours after the leaders of Italy and the US held a summit in Washington.
His comments came just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump would not pursue a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine without clear signs that it is achievable.
Vance also added that discussions with Meloni would focus on "trade negotiations, not only between Italy and the US but also with the EU".
In response to Rubio's comments, the Kremlin noted some progress in the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine but highlighted the "numerous complex issues" involved.
US President Donald Trump claims that in the coming days, Russia will provide Washington with a response to the proposal for a "ceasefire" in Ukraine.