Any Ukraine war solution must be accepted in Europe.

• US and Russia held their first major diplomatic interaction since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

• The talks, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, agreed to restore staffing at their embassies, explore closer economic cooperation, and set up a high-level team to end the Ukraine war.

• President Donald Trump signaled he might meet Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, later this month to secure the deal.

• Trump’s push for stability with Russia is rooted in realism, rejecting Russia as America’s main challenger.

• Trump opposes further American aid for Ukraine and focuses on building a better predictable relationship with China.

• The US has ruled out security guarantees to Ukraine, passing that responsibility to Europe, which stands divided.

• The Trump administration should strive towards a settlement that is acceptable to all parties – the U.S., Russia, Europe, and Ukraine.