As a senator, Marco Rubio prided himself on challenging tyrants. But as secretary of state, President Trump has tasked him with helping to potentially turn Russia from an enemy into an ally.

A possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "will largely depend on whether we can make any progress on ending the war in Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Trump’s frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid ongoing peace negotiations involving their war with Russia and shared that the previous administration had “frustrations” with the Ukrainian leader.

Amid diplomatic tensions between host South Africa and the Trump Administration, the U.S. will be represented at a meeting of foreign ministers by the acting ambassador to South Africa.