We should keep in mind; a potential ceasefire carries with it a potential benefit for Russia in that a cessation of hostilities provides the opportunity for Ukraine to hold elections.  There is a strong sense that current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not win if elections were held in the embattled country.

During his trip to Ireland, Secretary Rubio took multiple questions about the framework of the ‘ceasefire’ terms that Ukraine has outlined.  From the Trump/Rubio perspective, the goal is to stop the killing.  It is likely that Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia with a broad outline of the discussions so far.  From that point another conversation between President Trump and President Putin is likely.

Secretary Rubio stays focused on the primary objective, to get both sides to agree to come to the table, with an interim goal to talk about the conditions for a 30-day ceasefire.  WATCH:

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The information from Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks good.  During his flight to Saudi Arabia, Secretary Rubio answered a few questions about the U.S. delegation expectations of the meeting with Ukraine officials.

Rubio notes the aforementioned “minerals deal” is not an important part of the larger objective.  Secretary Rubio says that finding out if Ukraine’s desire for peace with Russia is true, in good faith or not, is the key objective.  A pragmatic Rubio also notes that Ukraine is likely going to have to give up lost territory to achieve peace.

FOX NEWS – […] “”The minerals deal is on the table that’s continuing to be worked on – it’s not part of this conversation, per se,” he said, noting that Tuesday’s meeting in Jeddah can be considered successful even without securing such an agreement.

[…] “The important point in this meeting is to establish clearly their intentions, their desire, as they’ve said publicly now, numerous times, to reach a point where peace is possible,” Rubio said, adding that he will need to be assured that Kyiv is prepared to make some hard decisions, like giving up territory seized by Russia, in order to end the three-year war. 

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Ukranian President and EU spokesperson Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces on his X-account that U.K officials traveled to Kiev for a proactive strategy session in advance of Tuesday’s talks in Saudi Arabia.

The UK (Starmer), France (Macron) and EU Commission (von der Leyden) are focused on ways to continue warfighting operations in Ukraine. Any cessation of hostilities runs counter to their collective financial and geopolitical interests.

(L-R) Zelenskyy, Starmer and Macron 

The European NATO coalition continues to demand blood to oil the machinery of war and opposing any peace efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump is now paramount. Unfortunately for Starmer and Macron, Ursula von der Leyden cannot guarantee or secure the long-term financing they need to replace funds from the USA stopped by President Trump.

If the pattern holds, there is likely to be a U.K/France supported Ukrainian drone or missile attack into Russia on Tuesday morning GMT. The U.S delegation of Secretary Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and President Trump’s emissary Steve Witkoff will all be in attendance.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered the following remarks:

“Today, a highly productive meeting took place in Kyiv between the diplomatic teams of Ukraine and the UK.

We discussed our joint steps that could bring us closer to peace and accelerate diplomatic efforts. I’m grateful for the support. Ukraine is determined to do everything to end this war with a just and lasting peace as soon as possible.

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They don’t stand a chance, truly.  Despite a few glimpses of possible hope that appeared and disappeared like twinkling remnants of a week-old glitter particle from the happy moment, the entire confab of European Commission participants, NATO alliance members, World Economic Forum pontificators and U.N. supporters of World War Reddit, are not going to force President Trump to put U.S. military troops on the ground in Ukraine to protect their investments.

The group is once again facing the indefatigable pragmaticism of President Trump.  Ukraine peacekeeping security is a European issue that should be solved by European peacekeepers, not Americans.

Every member of the EU/NATO assembly, at varying degrees of self-embarrassment, admits publicly now that none of them want to participate in securing Ukraine without U.S. military troops leading the effort.  It’s almost ridiculous how entrenched they appear to be on this issue.  Does NATO/EU not have any confidence in their own military ability?

CEASEFIRE- In order for the larger conflict to be resolved, there first needs to be a ceasefire – a cessation of hostilities.  President Trump and President Putin have discussed this exact point.  President Trump has also engaged President Zelenskyy on this issue; however, Zelenskyy is far less willing to end the physical hostility.

The strange assumption that looms in the background, the visibility of something you can see on the face of Trump when he talks about it, is that Zelenskyy fears the ceasefire more than he fears losing thousands more Ukrainians in the bloodshed.  This is a current dynamic that needs increased scrutiny, because right now not enough people are noticing. Zelenskyy really seems to fear a ceasefire.

CTH has long outlined the greatest fear amid the EU/NATO/WEF collective, is that somehow the United States and Russia will form a strategic alliance.  In fact, Marco Rubio stunningly shared that public goal of President Trump in his initial remarks after meeting his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The New World Order the WEF/NATO/EU continually talk about, filled with the new definitions of “western democracy” where elections are controlled by Intelligence Community operatives (see ongoing operations in Romania), apparently cannot exist if the USA and Russia are allies.  Stop for more than a few moments and think about that; we have yet to figure out exactly why.

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Speaking to Catherine Herridge, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives further examples of why the Trump administration has grown increasingly frustrated with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [Short Video, 2 mins – WATCH]

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A notice in the federal register [SEE HERE] scheduled to be published on February 20, 2025, outlines how the U.S. State Department under Marco Rubio intends to designate Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and MS13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

In combination with enhanced actions by the Dept of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Treasury Dept., the designation opens up a lot of authority for the U.S. government to target not only the gangs, but any entity or enterprise who supports their activity; including the government of Mexico.

WASHINGTON – […] This designation allows the U.S. to impose financial sanctions on these groups and people connected to them, and cooperate with allies to cull cartels. It also allows the U.S. to declare members of these groups as “inadmissible” to the country and ineligible for immigration benefits.

It’s not immediately clear how far these sanctions might go — or who they may target. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

The move follows President Donald Trump’s latest efforts to crack down on cartels. On Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order that established a pipeline for cartels and other international groups that “constitute[d] a national security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime” to be labeled as global terrorists.

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It was inevitable. We have been together from the outset of the conversation where we admitted to ourselves that sooner or later the pretending was going to have to stop. Well, here we are.

President Donald Trump begins a very uncomfortable process to peel back the mask that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy represents. This is needed:

President Trump – Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation.

On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues….. (link)

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio will need to maintain a lot of energy to operate foreign policy advancement at the “optimal resolution” speed of President Donald Trump.

Rubio departed Israel for his visit to Saudi Arabia where two major topics are on the agenda. The U.S. Secretary was welcomed by Saudi Foreign Minster Faisal bin Farhan and is scheduled to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On the agenda today is what to do about Gaza, tomorrow the discussion changes direction to address Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia has expressed opposition to the Trump plan for the temporary relocation of Gaza Palestinians while a complete restructuring, revitalization and rebuilding of the region takes place. However, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have not proposed an alternative to the Trump plan.

Saudi Arabia (MbS), Egypt (al-SiSi) and Jordan (King Abdullah II) have balked at the idea of Israeli Prime Mister Benjamin Netanyahu that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan temporarily host Palestinian refugees; a plan suggested by President Trump. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan do not want more Palestinians to worry about.

Ultimately, Secretary Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to ask Crown Prince MbS directly, if not the Trump plan – then what? What solution can be proposed by the Arabs that creates long lasting stability, peace and the opportunity for residents in Gaza to live without terrorism, Hamas, chaos and war?

♦ Tomorrow the agenda switches to discuss the Russia -v- Ukraine conflict. Secretary Rubio will be joined by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Oddly, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the region; however, according to most public reporting he is not expected to participate in the U.S-Russia negotiations. I would not be surprised if something in the background is triggered by President Trump that pulls-in Zelenskyy while the Ukraine President is in Saudi Arabia.

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“Peace is not a noun, it’s a verb. Peace takes action, not words.” That is a message carried by Secretary of State Marco Rubio today during his interview with CBS Margaret Brennan that pertains to both the Israel -v- Hamas conflict and the Russia -v- Ukraine conflict.

Brennan used the interview to push the MSM narrative that JD Vance was lecturing European leaders at the Munich Security Conference.  Rubio defended the remarks by Vice President Vance and told Ms. Brennan that certain uncomfortable truths need to be said regardless of the reception to them. The video and transcript are below:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning and welcome to “Face the Nation.” We want to begin today with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is in Jerusalem on the second leg of his trip through Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Secretary, I know it’s the evening hours there, and you’ve had a long day. We appreciate your time. You’ve got quite a busy schedule. You met earlier with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He said he’s lock step with the Trump administration, but he can’t share details on, quote, “when the gates of hell will be open…if all our hostages are not released.” Did he tell you he wants to keep talks going to get to phase two of this hostage deal?

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO: Well, I think we share a common goal. We want to see every hostage released. Frankly, I think, and the President has said this, we want to see them out as soon as we possibly can. And- and certainly, you know, the world has watched these images of people, and it’s just heartbreaking to remember that some of them have been now almost two years there. It’s a horrifying situation. So we coordinate and work very close with them. We share the goal that every hostage needs to come home, every single one, without delay. Obviously, the- there are details of how we’re pursuing that and coordinating that we’re not going to share publicly because we don’t want to endanger the hostages and we don’t want to endanger this process. But suffice it to say that if it was up to us, every one of these hostages would be home right now, and we want it to happen as soon as possible.

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As expected, initial direct talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are being planned to take place in Saudi Arabia.  Saudi King Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) will be the key emissary to coordinate the agenda.

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Feb. 15, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Building on the Feb. 12 phone conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States, the foreign ministers agreed to maintain a communication channel to address accumulated issues in Russian-American relations,” a readout from the Russian Foreign Ministry read.

“This is aimed at removing the unilateral barriers inherited from the previous administration that hinder mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation.”

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