U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 14 at the Munich Security Conference, amid growing tensions over Washington's strategic priorities in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The discussions focused on security cooperation and economic partnerships, according to Rubio's official statement.
Zelenskyy used his conference address to criticize what he called a U.S. emphasis on Ukrainian compromises rather than Russian accountability. "Too often concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia," the president stated, ahead of scheduled trilateral negotiations between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington set for next week in Geneva.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of diplomatic friction, with Rubio notably absent from a key European leaders' session on Ukraine during the conference. Analysts suggest this reflects shifting U.S. priorities as President Donald Trump reiterated on February 13 that Ukraine must "get moving" toward a settlement, warning of missed opportunities.
Next week's Geneva talks follow inconclusive negotiations in January 2026, with all parties preparing for what could become a pivotal moment in the three-year conflict. Observers note the divergent approaches risk complicating unified Western responses to Russia's military actions.
