Rubio spoke as high-level talks continued in Miami between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, and European officials.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!- No Forced Deals: Rubio emphasized that the U.S. cannot “force” a deal, stating that both nations must agree to terms. The current strategy is to “nudge both sides to a common place.”
- Russian Engagement: A meeting is scheduled for Saturday in Miami with Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev to discuss the latest iteration of the peace plan. Rubio indicated he would likely attend.
Gaza: The “Board of Peace”
Progress on the Gaza ceasefire plan, announced in October, has been slow due to complex post-war governance issues.
- Governance Structure: The administration is pushing for a “Board of Peace” to oversee the territory and a Palestinian technocratic group to govern day-to-day.
- Security Force: The plan includes an International Stabilization Force. Rubio admitted that the U.S. still needs to “firm up” details regarding how this force will be funded, its rules of engagement, and its role in demilitarization.
Venezuela and Sudan
- Military Pressure: Rubio defended increasing U.S. military pressure on Venezuela, framing it as a necessary defense of national interests.
- Sudan Crisis: He expressed hope that a humanitarian ceasefire could be reached in Sudan in time for the new year.
State Department & Foreign Aid Overhaul
Rubio defended the “radical overhaul” of U.S. foreign assistance, which included the controversial dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- National Interest: Rubio argued that limited funds must be applied in a way that “furthers our national interest,” focusing on global health compacts rather than the previous agency model.
- Bureaucratic Shakeup: The Secretary has moved swiftly to reduce the size of the diplomatic corps, aligning the department’s resources with “America First” priorities.
Summary of Current Peace Efforts
| Conflict | Proposed Mechanism | Key Participants | Status |
| Ukraine | “Nudging” to common ground | US, Ukraine, Russia, EU Envoys | Active talks in Miami |
| Gaza | Board of Peace / Stabilization Force | US, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar | Developing rules of engagement |
| Sudan | Humanitarian Ceasefire | US & Regional Partners | Goal: End of 2025 |
