While Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not deny the possibility of imposing more economic sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not demonstrate his commitment to a lasting peace agreement with Ukraine, he admitted that a temporary cease-fire agreement between Ukraine and Russia “is not off the table.” This is despite the fact that the leaders of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agree that the best outcome is a peace agreement that permanently ends the war. “We all agree that the best way to end this conflict is through a comprehensive peace agreement,” Rubio told NBC News. “There’s no question about it. I mean, who would object if we told you tomorrow, ‘We have a comprehensive peace agreement, and it’s done’?” "I think that's the best way to end the war."

"Now, if a cease-fire is necessary down the road, well, we've advocated for it," Rubio added. “Unfortunately, the Russians, so far, have not agreed to that.”

However, he warned that “as soon as (President Donald Trump) takes those steps, all talks will stop.”

The top US diplomat, who was present at the meeting between Trump and Putin last Friday in Alaska, warned that if pressure on Moscow increases, “there will be no one left in the world to talk to the Russians and try to get them to sit at the table to reach a peace agreement.”

It is worth recalling that after the Alaska meeting, the US president told reporters: “There is no agreement until there is an agreement.”

Furthermore, Rubio blamed Putin for not making progress toward a ceasefire, answering questions about Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine over the past few days.

"We think it's usually very difficult to negotiate in the midst of hostilities. But that said, the only way to achieve a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop shooting at each other... and the Russians simply haven't agreed to that," he said.