The United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries have decided to discuss ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on the 11th (local time), noting that "Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to discuss the increase in defense spending by allied countries and the conclusion of the war in Ukraine at an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Turkey from the 14th to the 16th."
Minister Rubio explained, "Ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for June in The Hague, I will discuss an agenda to ensure that allies bear a fair share of defense costs to strengthen NATO."
This meeting comes ahead of Russia's proposal for negotiations with Ukraine. The meeting of the United States and NATO member countries seems aimed at pressuring Russia for an end to the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, "I propose resuming negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 15th."
The two countries engaged in negotiations in Istanbul a month after the war began in March 2022, mediated by Turkey, but ultimately the talks fell through. This proposal is significant in that it seeks to resume the negotiations that broke down at that time.
Ukraine has shown a positive response to Russia's proposal while maintaining that a ceasefire must be prioritized.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "The first step to truly ending the war is a ceasefire," adding, "It makes no sense for the war to continue for even one more day."