The United States expressed its displeasure over the lack of progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine on a peace deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Russia must convince the Trump administration that it is serious about the peace talks and not wasting its time.
Rubio pulls up Russia
Rubio attended a meeting of NATO ministers in Brussels and expressed concern over the peace talks. He said the delay has tested their patience, and they are fed up with the lackadaisical approach.
Rubio said that they will get to know whether Russia is serious about peace or not. US President Donald Trump has been claiming that the Russia-Ukraine war will soon end. The delay may be a tactic of Russia to get its military advance against Ukraine on the battlefield.
“If we woke up tomorrow and the Russians were launching a massive offensive, I think that would be a clear sign that they are not interested in peace. That hasn’t happened yet. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We want to know whether they want peace or not. And if they do, there is a way to get there, and we are ready to help,” Rubio said.
Zelenskyy urges more pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “ There must be real pressure—without wasting time on empty talk—to finally end this war.”
US revokes visas held by South Sudanese passport holders
Meanwhile, The United States Department of State has announced immediate measures to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent the issuance of new visas, following South Sudan’s failure to cooperate in the timely return of its citizens.
In a press statement quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US State Department said, “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States. Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”
“As South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle, effective immediately, the United States Department of State is taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders. We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation,” the statement added.
