Rubio Defends Trump’s Russia Sanctions Halt Gamble When Asked For Evidence Putin Wants Peace

First of all, and I want to thank the head of the presidential administration for joining us here. She's fantastic. She's an incredible leader and also an incredible spokesperson for the country. We had a chance to interact now numerous times. And thank you, Ro. I told you I would come and here I am, both in this beautiful spot, historic. You know, this is for centuries a crossroads of trade and commerce. Global trade and commerce came right through here. And this is why we're here now, because American companies, many of them are joining us here today, not just to visit here, but also as part of the C5 Plus One Forum that we think is so important. The United States wants to be a strong partner in Central Asia, obviously rooted in this country, but also all the neighboring countries who want to do more business and trade with us. We have an incredible delegation, almost 300 American businesses that are here with us, and the opportunity to sign over, when it's all said and done, billions of dollars of agreements that will both enrich the countries in the region, but also benefit the United States economically. so it's an honor to be here and an honor to be a part of it thank you for welcoming us thank you so happy to be with you thank you for choosing Uzbekistan of course thank you thank you for welcoming us and allowing us to see this incredible place yes thank you very much for for being with us here thank you it's an honor okay it's important for us uh we've been asking about your impressions here that you just gave them so extraordinary place i have to say um so straight I mean, look, it's competition, right? We have products, we have companies, they make things, and we just want fair competition and an opportunity. There's no part of the world in which we feel like America and American business should not have a fair shot to compete, and that's what we seek to do. This is not about coming here to say, stop talking to somebody else or stop working with some other country. That's not about that. This is about ensuring that in every part of the world that is opening its doors to American business and American commerce, that we're available, that we're showing up, and that we're there. And that's what this is all about. I mean, if you look at, for a long time, people have understood the importance of Central Asia, all five countries, Uzbekistan in particular. You see it. You guys have gone through this. This is a beautiful country. It's incredible what they've achieved in just the last decade in terms of economic growth and prosperity. and we just want to identify opportunities on things we can work together on and we're here to do that and that's what we want to do and that's not a negative action against any other country that's just i mean countries want to have as many relationships as possible uzbekistan's been clear they want to be friends to everybody they want to have a relationship with everybody they want to have economic relations with everybody and we are saying that we are interested and that's why we've come here with almost 300 american businesses joining us who are looking forward to seeing what opportunities exist and in fact some of whom I've already done agreements that we'll be announcing a little later. Yeah. The what? The what? Yeah. Yes. Well, you'll have to ask Congress. We are in favor of repealing it. There are a number of strong voices in Congress that are in favor of repealing it. I was actually asked that during my confirmation hearing in the Senate, and I said, you know, I was in favor of repealing it, and the administration has asked for that to be done. Congress just hasn't gotten around to it, but hopefully they will. Secretary, in terms of geopolitics and the part of the world that we're in, President Vladimir Putin reportedly has proposed a meeting with President Trump. Sorry did you leave? She left. She's got to go work. I understand. Okay, sorry. President Putin of Russia reportedly proposed a meeting with President Trump and with Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Is that something you can comment on at all? Is that accurate? Well, I don't know. I mean, I think there's been talks of a meeting. I don't know if anything's been finalized, but the president's been clear. He'd like the war in Ukraine and Russia to end. He wants that war to end. He has said that when he was a candidate. He said it never would have happened had he been president at the time, but it did happen. And now we've done everything we can and we'll continue to do everything we can to help facilitate the end of that war. No one's winning that war. People are dying every day. Things are being blown up every day. Things are being destroyed every day. And he's talked about it. He's talked about the death toll. if you've listened to the president, he repeatedly cites the 25,000 people a month dying in these wars, the amount of destruction that's occurred, the amount of economic damage that's occurring. So as you've seen, we have engaged repeatedly over the last almost two years now to try to bring about or facilitate an end to this war. And I think the president is open to anything that he can do to help bring a war to an end if it's possible. And we'll continue to look for opportunities to do that. So far, obviously, we haven't made the kind of progress we would like to have made but it's not for lack of trying and the president remains very committed to it you saw his post overnight or overnight our time and at some point in on the east coast in the united states where he once again reiterated uh why it is that uh he's done the things he's done with suspending the sanctions for 60 days is because he he wants to see if there's an opportunity for the talks that are going on right now with both ukraine and russia to lead to something positive and avoid you know another disastrous year of war and conflict What evidence do you actually have that President Putin is opening a key peace office to come into the United States? What evidence? Well, this is, I mean, I don't know. This is not a criminal case. I mean, what this is is about diplomacy. And in diplomacy, you continue to try. And sometimes, unfortunately, when these conflicts are the kinds that we're talking about now, these are complicated. They're entrenched. In some cases, a deadlock, sort of a stagnated conflict in which neither side is making clear victories, but both sides are inflicting tremendous damage. We're just going to keep trying to the extent we can to see if we can facilitate an end to it We'll keep testing every opportunity that presents itself In the end the evidence will be whether we whether a deal gets done or not whether both sides are willing to give in order To end this war, but you just have to keep trying to do it. Sometimes it works Sometimes it doesn't but that's the nature of diplomacy The what Well, I can't. I don't know. I mean, if it happened last night, I don't know exactly. I know a few nights ago there was a software problem involving their early warning system that I know sent. I'm sorry. I know that Ucom had been involved in looking at it, and that's the report they gave us back. I can't comment on what happened last night. As a nation's top diplomat and secretary, are you concerned that American diplomats, American diplomats are... That what? Americans are... Well, we're concerned about Americans at risk anywhere in the world. You know, we have a diplomatic presence there, and we do meetings on a weekly basis in all of our posts, especially those that are in conflict zones, to determine whether or not we can continue to maintain people there. As of now, we've not changed our posture or our footprint in Kyiv. We have our presence there. But, of course, we're concerned. We're always concerned about the safety and security of our diplomats and our facilities. No, no, go ahead, please. I'm sorry. Welcome to Uzbekistan, Mr. Paul. Thank you. assess Uzbekistan's role in the current development of Central Asia well i think it's the key in cornerstone i mean it's the most populous country you see the i mean we've seen i've never been here before i just arrived but just the the incredible reading up on the incredible economic development a growth rate now the gdp of almost eight percent a year is phenomenal and we want that courage for that trend to continue so i think you have tremendous opportunity here uh if you can have another decade like you had in the last decade i think you'll be in an incredible place you already are. And I was stunned by the number of tourists that come. Stunned meaning surprised that the numbers were that high. I know I inquired about direct flights from the United States. There's actually talks underway potentially for a direct flight from Miami. I know that there's one already from different other places. So we're always encouraged by coming to places like that and seeing a country that emerged like all of its neighbors from the Soviet area to where they are today in such a short period of time and the incredible opportunities they have to really build on that and transform the country in an incredibly positive way. And that's why we're here. We just want to be a positive part of it. And that's why we brought all these businesses with us as well, because they want to be a part of it. Subscribe to One India and never miss an update. Download the One India app now.