Rubio denies Zelenskyy's claim that the US asked Ukraine to cede land to Russia for security deal - AP News

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied President Zelenskyy's assertion that the United States pressured Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia as part of a potential peace settlement. Zelenskyy claimed the U.S. had made such a request, but Rubio rejected the characterization, suggesting a fundamental disagreement over the terms of any diplomatic resolution. The dispute reflects tension between Washington and Kyiv over how to end the conflict, with Ukraine seeking maximum territorial preservation while the Trump administration appears to be exploring negotiated settlements. Rubio's denial suggests the White House is managing negotiations without committing publicly to Ukraine's preferred outcome. The disagreement underscores the delicate dynamics as the U.S. weighs its support for Ukraine against its stated interest in resolving the war through diplomacy.