Overview

• At a meeting with eight European leaders, President Trump assigned Secretary of State Marco Rubio to coordinate with Europe on draft security guarantees tied to possible Ukraine–Russia negotiations.
• European officials have expressed concern about the accelerated timetable and the risk of talks proceeding without full Ukrainian leverage.
• Rubio publicly praised Trump on X following a tense Oval Office exchange with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring his political realignment.
• Since taking office, Rubio has absorbed additional roles, with reporting describing him as a de facto “minister for everything,” including oversight of USAID functions.
• Policy moves under Rubio include curbing development aid, tightening social‑media vetting for visa applicants, lauding mass deportations to El Salvador, and denying Gazans entry for medical care, drawing criticism at home and in Europe.