Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing back against claims the Trump administration is sidelining Ukraine in discussions about Russia’s ongoing war, calling such reports "not accurate."

"I think what the president was irritated by, and rightfully so, was this argument that somehow we haven't talked to Ukraine," Rubio said.

He emphasized that President Donald Trump reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I was there for both calls," Rubio said. "He immediately called Zelenskyy right away."

The remarks came amid reports suggesting that Trump is excluding Ukrainian officials from high-level discussions about a potential resolution to the war. Earlier this month, members of the Trump administration traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Russian officials, a meeting that did not include Ukrainian representatives.

Trump recently downplayed Ukraine’s role in negotiations, telling Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade: "He's been at the meetings for three years and nothing got done," the president said, referring to Zelenskyy. "So I don't think he's very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you."

Despite concerns over Ukraine’s absence in some talks, Rubio insisted the administration is serious about exploring a potential resolution with Russia.

"We told them [Russia] – do you guys want to end the war? Do you want to continue?" he said. "If you want to end the war, we can talk about what it would take to end it from their perspective. If you want to continue on the war, just tell us now."

According to Rubio, Russian officials agreed to a follow-up meeting where diplomatic teams from both sides will discuss possible terms for ending the war.

The discussions about Ukraine come as Trump’s broader stance on U.S. involvement in European security is drawing criticism from allies. Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, recently voiced concerns about America’s commitment to NATO, following Trump’s suggestion that European nations should take greater responsibility for their own defense.

Merz even suggested Europe should consider an independent defense force, a move signaling waning trust in NATO.

Rubio dismissed such concerns, arguing that NATO is not under threat, but that European allies must do more.

"The only thing that puts NATO in jeopardy is the fact that we have NATO allies who barely have militaries, or whose militaries are not very capable because they've spent 40 years not spending any money on it," Rubio said.

Trump has long called for NATO members to increase their financial contributions to the alliance. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently announced that European nations have agreed to raise their defense spending, saying they need to do "much, much more."

"We're not saying do your own thing. We're saying do more. It's their continent, right?" Rubio said. "Why is it unreasonable for the United States to ask rich European countries to invest more money in their own national security?"

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Here’s why Secretary of State Rubio was right to make Central America his first foreign trip 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the international airport in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador.

The path to American economic security runs through Central America President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, which is unequivocal about making America stronger abroad.

This is why new Secretary of State Marco Rubio made history by traveling to Central America and the Dominican Republic for his first foreign trip – a welcome break from the status quo as these countries have often struggled to compete for Washington’s attention.

Headlines from Rubio’s trip focused on migration agreements and the Panama Canal.

Still, the trip also focused on accelerating U.S. investment and strengthening supply chains, including a major announcement for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help Guatemala expand its port facilities.

This agreement might not have captured mass media coverage, but it followed well the vision laid out by Secretary Rubio in advance of his trip: “Relocating our critical supply chains to the Western Hemisphere would clear a path for our neighbors’ economic growth and safeguard Americans’ own economic security.”

In fact, Secretary Rubio’s choice to visit these five countries laid clear an emerging playbook of U.S. economic security that is also Americas economic security. This new vision is incredibly timely— many U.S. partners are keen to deepen their economic ties with the U.S., while grappling with the challenge that Chinese money regularly flows in rather than more trusted U.S. investment.

Both the U.S. and many of its hemispheric partners see the urgent need to capture more U.S. investment, especially in sectors that are vital to the American economy, but where it’s highly improbable to restore that investment outright due to production costs, labor force gaps, or other factors.

Importantly, in addition to Panama, which has its own bilateral trade agreement with the U.S., the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries visited by Rubio are politically stable U.S. allies. Their leaders recognize the importance of a prosperous and safe hemisphere for all, as evidenced by the briefcase full of agreements with which Rubio returned home.

Moreover, while Chinese influence looms large across Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America and the Dominican Republic remain squarely bound to the U.S. for trade.

In fact, the U.S. isn’t just the main trading partner for CAFTA-DR nations and Panama—it consistently runs a trade surplus with all of them. In other words, Central American and Dominican consumers buy more U.S. goods and services than they export, boosting U.S. manufacturing and exports. And if trade balances will shape future U.S. trade policy, the existing surplus proves that U.S. companies can relocate supply chains here without eroding them.

The U.S. doesn’t need to start from scratch to advance its interests and build an economic security strategy with these partners. It can strategically leverage existing agreements and institutions.

Outcompeting China in the region means building off initiatives from the first Trump Administration. Improving free trade agreements (FTAs) like CAFTA-DR and the Panama-U.S. Trade Promotion Agreement could counter Chinese influence in the region through U.S. commerce and investment.

The U.S. Trade Representative should assess the effectiveness and limitations of current FTAs and analyze what effects the incorporation of forced labor import prohibitions or Chinese transshipment restrictions could have on limiting Chinese regional influence.

To counter China’s influence in critical infrastructure – including ports, technology, and telecommunications – the Trump administration should direct Congress to update the tools that the U.S. often uses to counter China.

For example, finalizing a loosening of lending constraints on the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) would enable more strategic investments in the region. Currently, the BUILD Act’s income-based restrictions prevent DFC from investing in high-income countries like Panama.

Secretary Rubio’s trip reaffirmed the strategic importance of many Central American countries and the Dominican Republic. These nations offer political stability, existing trade agreements and a track record of economic cooperation, making them ideal partners in securing U.S. investments and boosting exports.

To forge American economic security, all the Trump administration has to do is look next door.

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