Rubio's Absence Sparks Concern Among NATO Allies

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly planning to skip next week's NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is set to attend instead, though Rubio's schedule could still change, according to U.S. officials cited by Reuters.

The State Department didn't confirm or deny Rubio's absence when asked, but defended the Trump administration's NATO engagement as having "revitalized" the alliance. A spokesperson noted that Rubio "meets with and talks to NATO allies regularly," pointing to last week's discussions in Geneva.

Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Corruption Investigation

The timing is awkward, to say the least. Rubio's expected no-show comes as Kyiv deals with fresh political chaos. Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff and a central figure in negotiations with Russia, resigned Friday after anti-corruption agents searched his home.

His departure follows the leak of a 28-point draft plan outlining the Trump administration's proposed path to ending the war. Yermak had met with Rubio and other senior officials to push for changes to the peace proposal. Washington had reportedly warned that it might reduce intelligence cooperation and weapons shipments if Kyiv refused to accept the plan.

The Peace Plan Drawing Fire from All Sides

European and Ukrainian officials aren't holding back their criticism. They've called the peace plan a Kremlin "wish list," arguing it would restore Russia's global standing and legitimize its control of Crimea and other occupied territories.

Here's what the plan includes: Ukraine could join the EU but would be banned from joining NATO. NATO troops would be prohibited from deployment on Ukrainian soil. Kyiv would have to adopt non-nuclear status and cap its military at 600,000 troops.

Russia, for its part, has responded cautiously to the draft proposal. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow supports U.S. efforts but emphasized there would be "no concessions on key issues." Which is diplomatic speak for "we like parts of this, but don't expect us to give anything up."