Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that Russia has provided the United States with clear conditions on what it will take to end the war in Ukraine.

Getting into it: Speaking to Fox Business Network’s Larry Kudlow, Rubio said the US now has “concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end the war,” marking what he called a turning point in the administration’s understanding of Moscow’s position. While he didn’t disclose specific details, Rubio stressed that territorial issues are at the heart of Russia’s demands and acknowledged that “obviously, the Ukrainians have a say in this.” He also highlighted the importance of a ceasefire, stating, “It’s hard to negotiate details of a final peace agreement while you’re shooting at each other.”

Rubio’s comments follow a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held over three hours of talks at the Kremlin. Following the meeting, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as “useful and constructive,” saying both sides exchanged messages that clarified their positions. Ushakov added that Moscow had received a “proposal from the Americans” from the Trump administration that he said was “acceptable.” He did not go into detail about what the offer was.

As of now, these are Russia and Ukraine’s demands for ending the war:

Russia’s demands include:

• Formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
• Ukrainian acknowledgment of Russian control over the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
• A legally binding guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO.
• Demilitarization of certain parts of Ukraine, particularly near Russian borders.
• A reduction in Ukraine’s military.
• Lifting of Western sanctions and restoration of economic ties with the West.

Ukraine’s demands include:

• Full restoration of its 1991 borders, including Crimea and all occupied eastern territories.
• Withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
• Security guarantees from Western allies to prevent future aggression.
• Prosecution of Russian war crimes committed during the invasion.
• Reparations from Russia to cover the costs of war damages and civilian losses.

This comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia following increased rhetoric from Russian officials and President Trump. The shit-talking from Russian officials (specifically former President Dmitry Medvedev, who alluded that the US could be at war with Russia soon) led to President Trump announcing the deployment of two nuclear-armed submarines near Russia. According to Israeli news outlets, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been working in the background as an intermediary between Putin and Trump. Sources close to Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster KAN that his outreach was conducted with President Trump’s full knowledge and was aimed at reducing friction between the US and Russia.