'I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable,' Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed uncertainty over whether a negotiated peace deal between Ukraine and Russia is possible, speaking at a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Oct. 31.

“I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine. That's what we're trying to find out,” Rubio told reporters at a press conference in Atlanta.

“I don't think anyone here is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement,” he added.

Rubio’s comments come amid concerns in Kyiv that the U.S. has softened its stance toward Russia ahead of expected trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi in early November. No formal date has been set for the meeting.

“We're going to continue to try and see if we can reach an agreement,” Rubio said. “But I'm not here to tell you we are on the verge of one.”

The remarks mark a shift in tone after more than a year and a half of efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Trump initially expressed confidence that he could secure a deal within months of taking office, but Moscow has repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals, frustrating the U.S. president.

Disagreements over territory and security guarantees remain unresolved ahead of the next round of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. Ukrainian officials do not expect an immediate breakthrough but hope the meeting will revive regular negotiations and produce limited results.

While Rubio spoke in Atlanta, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

Although the meeting produced few concrete announcements, Zelensky said the two leaders had discussed security in the Black Sea.

“Turkey consistently supports our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and our steps that can ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and restore normal living conditions in the Black Sea region,” Zelensky said.

The visit comes amid an escalation in Russian and Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea in recent months. In August, Ankara called for a halt to attacks on vessels following several incidents involving Turkish-flagged ships.

Zelensky thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s cooperation and its willingness to support initiatives aimed at achieving peace and security in the region.

At the G20 meeting, Rubio was also asked about the decision to invite Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who attended the talks.

Lavrov’s presence sparked controversy after European foreign ministers reportedly refused to pose with him for the traditional group photo on Oct. 30.

Rubio defended the invitation, arguing that negotiations require direct communication with both sides.

“How can you have a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine if you don’t have the ability to talk to both Russia and Ukraine?” he said.

Ukraine was not represented at the G20 meeting. The country is not a member of the group and was not invited, although it has attended G20 meetings in the past.

Ceasefire in Kherson Oblast: Russia attempting to discredit Ukrainian defence forces

Russian forces are attempting to discredit Ukrainian troops during a humanitarian mission in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military grouping said.

Ukrainian forces, including units of the Pivden (Southern Military Unit) Group of Forces, are observing the ceasefire in the area, spokesperson Maksym Kravchuk told Ukrainska Pravda. However, he said, Russian troops have used the pause to rotate units, fortify positions, install anti-drone defenses along roads, strengthen logistics and bring in ammunition.

Kravchuk said Ukrainian units had repeatedly detected Russian reconnaissance drones during the ceasefire and documented Russian troops dropping munitions from drones. He said these actions were intended to provoke Ukrainian forces and create the impression that they were violating the ceasefire.

The Pivden Group of Forces stressed that the ceasefire is strictly humanitarian and intended to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Ukrainian units are monitoring the situation and Russian military activity to prevent potential threats and provocations, Kravchuk said.

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Russian attacks killed 5 and injured at least 46, while Ukraine faces a complex energy situation

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed five people and injured at least 46 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Oct. 31, as Moscow continued its campaign against the country's energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 105 of the 134 drones, including jet-powered attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russian drones struck 20 locations, while falling debris was recorded in 10 other areas.

The attacks came as Russia intensified its strikes on Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the country's power situation as difficult, saying around 200,000 households in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and another 80,000 in Kyiv Oblast were without electricity.

"The world sees that Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure every day. And everyone who does not want to see this Russian escalation spread further into Europe must help Ukraine," Zelensky said on social media.

He called for stronger measures to bring the war closer to an end, including sanctions against Russia and new support packages for Ukraine.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people in Sloviansk and injured 16 others over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

A 43-year-old woman was killed in a Russian drone attack near Shostka in Sumy Oblast. The attacks also injured 14 people — seven men and seven women — local authorities reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian attacks near Nikopol killed one person and injured four others, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.

Russian forces also killed one person and injured two others in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian attacks injured seven people, while another 12 suffered acute stress reactions, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Poltava Oblast injured two men, aged 71 and 73, Governor Vitalii Diakivnych reported.

A Russian drone attack also injured a woman near Brovary in Kyiv Oblast, Governor Tymur Tkachenko said.