U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio missed a key Ukraine meeting in Munich due to scheduling conflicts, sparking criticism over U.S. engagement.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio missed a key Ukraine-focused meeting at the Munich Security Conference due to scheduling conflicts, drawing criticism from European officials who said his absence weakened the event. Rubio, arriving in Munich Friday, is set to speak Saturday and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines. His absence follows prior skips of high-level NATO and defense gatherings, raising concerns about U.S. engagement. Meanwhile, trilateral Russia-U.S.-Ukraine talks are planned for February 17–18 in Switzerland. The EU is drafting its own conditions for a peace deal, while Russia insists any agreement must protect its security and prevent Ukraine from rearming.