US to Seek Resumed Kyiv-Moscow Talks, Rubio Says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington will intensify diplomatic efforts in the coming weeks to determine whether negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow can be resumed. Speaking on Fox News, Rubio stated that the US will make a concentrated push to help end the war but acknowledged the significant diplomatic hurdles remaining.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “You will see some efforts over the next few weeks to see if we can get negotiations restarted between Russia and Ukraine and bring this war to an end,” Rubio said. He added that both sides maintain rigid positions. “Until we can get those red lines a little closer together, we’re not going to get the desired result,” he noted. Envoy visit to Kyiv Rubio’s remarks align with preparations for US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to make their first visit to Kyiv in the second half of August. Following a closed-door meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected the envoys to arrive in the coming weeks. The visit could coincide with Ukraine’s Independence Day on Aug. 24. The trip aims to address an imbalance in Washington’s diplomatic outreach. While Witkoff has reportedly traveled to Russia at least eight times – accompanied by Kushner on one occasion – neither has visited the Ukrainian capital since assuming their roles as principal intermediaries. Other Topics of Interest Russian Attack on Kyiv Damages Lithuanian Embassy, 25 Ambulances The Lithuanian embassy and an ambulance depot were damaged in Kyiv during a massive Russian missile and drone attack early Saturday morning. Zelensky previously stated that the envoys must witness the consequences of the war firsthand to fully grasp Ukraine’s military and security needs. Discussions in Kyiv are expected to cover proposals for restarting trilateral talks and a potential “air ceasefire” to halt strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure. The diplomatic push comes as US lawmakers work to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026. Kyiv views strengthened sanctions as a necessary mechanism to pressure Moscow into meaningful negotiations. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.