Russia-Ukraine war: 'Critical' week for US role in peace talks

It is a "very critical" week for the White House and its involvement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells US media.

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Rubio told US media that Donald Trump hasn't imposed new penalties on Russia because he still hopes diplomacy can end the war.

It comes after Trump held a brief meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican before Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday.

Updating reporters on Sunday, Trump said he believes Zelensky is willing to give up Crimea to Russia as part of a peace deal - despite Kyiv's previous rejections of any such proposal.

Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press programme, Rubio said: "There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20z20kyvxxo

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